Wellington County has adopted a 2015 budget with a 2.8 per cent tax levy increase.
Warden George Bridge says the budget, which will cost county taxpayers an additional $18 per $100,000 of assessment, “invests in the residents of Wellington County.
“With this budget, the county is making a significant commitment to improving health care in our community in addition to enhancing the county’s physical and technological infrastructure. This budget also means the creation of new and future jobs for Wellington County,” Bridge stated in a press release issued after the budget was passed at the Jan. 29 county council meeting.
The budget calls for spending of $185,489,200 – including capital spending of about $26.9 million – and projects revenues of $100,965,700, leaving $84,523,500 to be raised through the tax levy.
Spending in the budget includes:
– $1.2 million for the first installment of a new $9.4-million investment in three local hospitals: Groves hospital in Fergus; Louise Marshall Hospital in Mount Forest and Palmerston District Community Hospital;
– $218,000 for an ambulance response time improvement plan through the City of Guelph;
– $14.7 million for roads and bridges;
– $4.3 million for social and affordable housing in Guelph and Wellington;
– $3.5 million for the renovation and expansion of the Palmerston Library; and
– continued economic development funding, including a new County of Wellington sign strategy, sector investment profiles, preparation for the county hosting the International Plowing Match in 2016, and a local municipal business retention and expansion fund.
Staffing in the economic development department has also been increased, with the economic development co-ordinator position going from part-time to full-time. In December, former Town of Minto economic development and recreation coordinator Mandy Jones was hired for the full-time position with the county.
Other staffing changes covered in the budget include the addition of the equivalent of 8.8 full-time staff in various departments, at a net cost of $427,100 to the county.
The budget passed on Jan. 29 is the result of some cuts to a draft budget made at the committee level. Earlier projections indicated a 3.2% tax levy increase.
All the cuts came from the police services budget, where a decision to forego the practice of adding two officers per year saved $340,000. The savings came from salaries and capital costs associated with the proposed two officers and the elimination of a plan to add acquisition of two all-terrain vehicles to the police services budget.
The police services committee altered five-year projections to reflect the hiring of no new officers in 2015 and 2016 and one new officer in each of the following three years.
Councillor Don McKay explained the solid waste services committee backed off a plan to increase bag tag fees for garbage, but went ahead with a $5 per tonne increase in tipping fees (to $75 per tonne), which is expected to generate additional revenue.
“This is a fiscally responsible budget for the county,” said councillor Dennis Lever, chair of the county’s administration, finance and personnel committee.
“It strikes a good balance between economic growth and protecting and improving our infrastructure and services thereby ensuring stability for years to come.”
Several elements of the budget generated discussion among councillors prior to passage.
Councillor Andy Lennox questioned the need for $250,000 for improvements to the Aboyne library. He pointed out the library was recommended for closure less than 30 months ago and he suggested the long-term use of the building is uncertain.
“This is akin to me doing a renovation at my home and not knowing if it’s going to be a recreation room or granny flat,” said Lennox.
Councillor Kelly Linton agreed “it probably does make sense to defer it until after we get the Fergus library up and running and check out traffic counts.”
CAO Scott Wilson asked council to clarify if Lennox was suggesting simply that the work be deferred, or if he was asking for the money to be taken out of the budget.
Treasurer Ken DeHart pointed out removing the expense from the 2015 budget would lower this year’s tax increase to 2.5%, but increase the projected increase for 2016 from 3.2 to 3.8%.
Wilson pointed out that while there is “no fear of structural failure at present” he anticipates the county will continue using the building regardless of whether it continues to be a library or not.
“I would acknowledge that we have three libraries in a very small area,” said councillor Lynda White. “So we may want to find out what the traffic is going to be like.”
Council passed a resolution to defer the proposed work at the Aboyne facility, but left the money in a reserve.
Councillor Allan Alls questioned a $50,000 fund to match lower tier spending on trails.
“In my municipality we’re having trouble doing even a couple of sidewalks,” said the Erin mayor, who made a motion to delete the funding from the budget.
Councillor Chris White cautioned against viewing county projects from a strictly local perspective.
“The county is a federation. You have to consider it one unit … I think you have to be cautious about saying, ‘Well, my municipality may not be able to take advantage of it,’” White stated.
Councillor Shawn Watters pointed out it’s optional for lower tier municipalities to participate.
“If there’s no uptake, the money is rolled back into the general coffers,” said Watters, adding, “Trails are important part of our community.”
Warden George Bridge, pointed out the $50,000 is allocated over three years and noted matching lower tier funds don’t have to be tax dollars.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to come from taxpayers at the lower tier end, we have some groups that can do some fundraising,” said Bridge.
“I’m not against trails, don’t get me wrong … we have volunteer trail groups in my community,” said Alls.
However, he added, “I still think it’s not the core business of the county.”
While agreeing with Chris White that municipalities must work together at the county level, Lennox said he also agreed with Alls that trails are not the county’s core business.
“It think it’s a bit of a question mark,” Lennox stated.
“It’s all part of economic development, all part of quality of life,” said Bridge. “Quality of life is what people look at to consider moving into our communities.”
The warden also noted the $50,000 allocation was agreed to when a proposed $22-million active transportation plan was put on the back burner.
“This was a compromise that would keep everyone involved,” Bridge noted.
A motion to leave the trail funding in place passed with only Alls and Lennox opposed.
Later in the meeting, Lennox expressed concern about the pace of the budget process, which he called “very daunting.”
Stating the budget contained priorities set by previous councillors, Lennox suggested deferral of passage until June to allow new councillors to get up to speed and put their own priorities into the five-year plan, which calls for $122.8 million in infrastructure spending from 2015 to 2019.
DeHart explained spending projected in the five-year plan must be approved on an annual basis.
“You’re not approving all the project spending in this forecast,” he explained.
McKay added, “it’s important to understand the five-year plan is an estimate, or a forecast. It’s a starting point … I think we need to endorse the five-year plan as it is now and then move foreword, because it is always changing.”
Bridge offered to arrange for additional “strategic planning” sessions to go over the spending forecasts in more detail.
“I would be willing to withdraw my motion if we are committing to further discussions as a council,” replied Lennox.
A motion to approve the budget passed without opposition.
Rob Black abstained from voting on the budget resolution, noting his spouse is a county employee.
