Centre Wellington councillor Kelly Linton would like to see a shift in how tax dollars are divided among various levels of local government.
Linton posed his comment during budget discussions on Jan. 29.
Estimates for 2014 see the division of township residential tax bills as follows: Wellington County 56.4 per cent, Centre Wellington 25.6% and education 18%.
For commercial/industrial property the division is Wellington County, 40%; Centre Wellington 18% and education 42%.
“It’s a really basic question, but when you look at how much money the county gets out of the taxes compared to the township and education, how was it established and how does it change?” Linton asked.
More importantly, he said, “How can we get more of it?”
Managing director of corporate services Wes Snarr said it could be done if the township increased its tax rates faster than the county.
“But way back, how did it start?” Linton asked. “… and how do we change it?”
Councillor Walt Visser said the county deals with a number of high-cost issues such as social services.
Councillor Steven VanLeeuwen said, “It seems the county has lots of money for roads, while we are struggling.”
He asked if there was a way for the county to take a bit less of the tax dollars so the township would have more to work with.
“How do we re-evaluate?”
CAO Andy Goldie said Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj is involved in that discussion at the county level.
Goldie said there is a long history behind who provides what service to local residents.
He said it seems that as one gets further and further away from local representation, “it seems to be easier to increase taxes more than at the local level.”
Goldie said being connected at a local level, councillors do want to keep taxes lower.
“It’s all based on historic decisions made by previous councils which impact your ability to handle taxes and services.”
He added, “Centre Wellington has been very frugal and very cost effective with its services and making sure we have the resources to do that.”
“But what is the potential of doing anything?” Linton asked.
Ross-Zuj added the asset management plans the township has just gone through “has clearly identified this gap.
“There is a gap between the county’s ability to pay versus the township’s ability to pay.”
Ross-Zuj said perhaps the issue is whether the municipality would like to upload responsibilities to the county level – or whether the county would be willing to enter different partnerships with municipalities to address some of these challenges.
“It’s a difficult conversation to have because there are seven municipalities involved.”
She added the situation of each of those seven municipalities is very different.
Ross-Zuj did agree that “This conversation has to happen right now. The gap is only going to get bigger. I think there is a realization by everyone at the table.”
But a strategy still needs to be addressed, she said.
Councillor Walt Visser said, “The bottom line is that it is like going to your dad and asking for your allowance. You may have a hundred reasons why you should have a raise, but if your dad doesn’t want to go along with it, he doesn’t have to.”
VanLeeuwen believed council should still push forward on the matter. “The taxpayer is the loser if we all start racing for the money.”
Ross-Zuj said “our voice is not going to be silent.”
