Council passes taxes, borrowing bylaws

by David Meyer

MAPLETON TWP.

At its first meeting of 2012 on Jan. 10, council passed its interim tax levy bylaw and a borrowing bylaw to set up township finances for the coming year.

Council approved a standard interim tax levy bylaw that allows it to charge residents half of last year’s taxes over two installments. The first installment is due on March 23 and the second is due June 22.

That permits the township to operate while council considers its 2012 budget. In recent years, most municipalities are completing their budgets much earlier than in the past.

Last year for example, Wellington County set its budget at the beginning of the year and found very competitive bidding for its capital project from companies that had yet to obtain contracts for the summer construction season.

County officials estimated they save thousands of dollars by getting the budget done early so the call for tenders can go out earlier in the year.

Mapleton council also approved a bylaw allowing it to borrow money if there is a shortfall of cash prior to the taxes reaching the office.

Chief administrative officer Patty Sinnamon said that bylaw is done every year but the township has never had to use it to borrow in the time she has been working in Mapleton.

January 20, 2012