Budget update: Clearview council pauses affordable housing funds
In the words of Clearview Township Mayor Doug Measures, council went through a “save and spend” exercise on Feb. 2, trying to find ways to reduce taxpayer funded budget spending while also adding items that have been on council’s wish list.
A public meeting was held for the budget Feb. 9 (after presstime), when the public would be offered a chance to comment.
The initial staff-proposed budget reflected an increase in municipal taxes of 9.31 per cent, but after being massaged by council, went to the public meeting with a 7.6 per cent increase – and a blended rate of 4.98 per cent, once estimated policing costs, county and education tax rates are factored in, lowering the increase.
Council reduced the tax increase by borrowing from municipal reserve funds, and cutting funding for affordable housing for seniors.
Off the top, $250,000 was cut from a reserve fund that was set up to create a nest egg with the hope that the municipality would one day be in a position to partner with the County of Simcoe, or a developer to build affordable housing for seniors if the opportunity came along. Councillor Marty Beelen tabled the motion to cut the spending explaining, ironically, that people are struggling financially.
“When I was out campaigning, the number one thing that people said to me was taxes are high enough and they can’t afford a tax increase,” he said.
He said while attending the ROMA conference he heard that people are facing a number of crises; housing shortages, inflation, medical supply issues, food insecurity, fuel costs and that a calming effect could be achieved by lowering taxes.
“I know that people are struggling with the rising costs of everything,” said Beelen. “I think we need to do everything we can to lower tax increases. So I’m looking at senior affordable housing and I don’t think this is a good year to do any contribution, let alone increase the contribution.”
Councillors Robert Walker and John Broderick supported an amendment to contribute $150,000 to the fund, but no other support was to be found around the table.
Measures said it’s a worthy effort but there is no existing program, and that affordable housing and seniors housing projects are more likely to come to fruition in urban areas.
“I’ve never been in favour of this project in the first place,” said Measures. “I do appreciate the fact that in the future there may be opportunities and to have a fund available that we have is a good idea but I’m not sure why we continue to contribute, and contribute as high as we do to a fund that’s a program that doesn’t even exist.”
Beelen’s motion to defer the payment until 2024 was also supported by Councillors Phyllis Dineen, Robert McArthur and Deputy Mayor Paul Van Staveren.
Director of planning Amy Cann said there are options council can consider to route funds more specially for affordable housing, by possibly relieving or forgiving development charges, and setting aside municipal lands.
“I’m hoping some of the developers will realize that small rural Ontario does not have affordable housing and does need housing of a smaller scale,” said Walker.
A second resolution, tabled by Walker, adds approximately $100,000 for an electronic sign at the Stayner Arena and library.
A third resolution adds $140,000 for a new roof over the recreation pad in New Lowell
A resolution, tabled by Beelen, to cut EcoPark improvements failed.
Council also supported the addition of a multi-use recreation pad for McKean Memorial Park in Nottawa, equipped for basketball and skating ($100,000) and portable washroom for the Nottawa ball park ($75,000). Staff reported that these projects had been previously approved by council but “fell through the cracks” and were unintentionally omitted from previous budgets.
The additions will partially impact the taxation but will partially draw from reserves, to be paid back from taxation over the next few years.
Finally, $7,500 was added for additional yellow line painting on township roads.
