Council and staff here continue to trim expenses as they work through the 2014 municipal budget process.
A treasurer’s report approved by council at the Feb. 11 meeting includes a draft budget requiring a tax levy of $4,393,343, an increase of $393,254 over the 2013 levy.
Finance director Yufang Du said those numbers would result in a budget levy increase of 9.83 per cent and tax rate increase of 3.03%.
An earlier draft of the budget on Jan. 28 included a levy increase of $437,995 over the 2013 levy – or 10.95%.
The report was received following a four-hour budget session prior to the regular council session on Feb. 11.
Mayor Bruce Whale said council is still aiming to have the budget passed by the end of March. However, he noted, the process could be complicated by decisions to be made regarding rebuilding of the township’s public works garage at the Mapleton administration Centre on Sideroad 16.
The facility burned down on Nov. 29 and further meetings with the township’s insurer, the Frank Cowan Company, are needed before rebuilding can proceed.
Whale said the project could still affect the 2014 budget.
“We have a few unknowns,” said Whale. “We’re not sure how much coverage we’re going to have.”
While insurance will cover the loss of the building, additional funds could be needed if council decides not to rebuild the exact same building on the same footprint as the previous shed. It’s possible the municipality may have to debenture a portion of the project, Whale explained.
The mayor also noted further review of potential bridge and road projects will be conducted before the budget is finalized.
“We do know we have some bridges in this municipality that are not going to last forever,” said the mayor, noting four bridges have been identified as requiring attention in the near future.
Du presented a report explaining that Mapleton’s 2014 share of unconditional grant funding through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund is $1,050,600, a decrease of $185,300 from 2013.
“That 185,000 that we lost transfers into a four per cent increase in our operating budget. So it’s pretty significant for us,” said Whale.
