Councillors here have ratified Centre Wellington’s $50-million budget.
On Feb. 19, Centre Wellington council approved the 2013 operating budget of $27.8 million. The 2013 capital budget of $23 million was approved in December.
The combined budget of $50.8 million results in a 2.1% increase in township taxes and a 1.9% increase to the total tax bill (including county and education tax requirements).
A major challenge facing Centre Wellington and a large number of other Ontario municipalities was the ongoing reduction of the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund grant. The province had provided unconditional grants to municipalities under various names for more than three decades.
In Centre Wellington the 2013 reduction amounts to $99,900 or 10% of the grant.
Since 2009, the township’s annual OMPF funding has decreased by more than 40% or $642,800 (from $1,542,600 to $899,800).
Residential property taxes for township, county and education purposes will increase by an estimated total of $21 per year for each $100,000 of assessment (the township portion is $6) or about $64 for a house with an average 2013 assessed value of $301,060 (township portion is $18) – an increase of 1.9%.
“The 2013 Centre Wellington budget timing was superb, with the capital budget being approved in December and operating budget this evening,” said Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj.
“Staff connected the budget with our strategic direction and preparation was outstanding. This year’s process was cooperation at its best and we continue to build for our future.”
The 2013 capital budget includes the following capital projects:
– Hill Street drainage outlet improvements in Elora;
– paving Fifth Line South, from Eramosa-Garafraxa Townline to Wellington Road 18 in former West Garafraxa;
– paving Second Line from Highway 6 to Sideroad 6, south of Fergus;
– reconstruction of Irvine Street, from John Street to Colborne Street, in Elora;
– begin replacing the ice mechanical system at the Elora Community Centre;
– an irrigation system for the south and west fields of Victoria Park in Fergus;
– renovations to the council chamber (including media upgrades) in Elora;
– development of a business retention and expansion program for Centre Wellington;
– upgrades to the Elora wastewater treatment plant (project completion in 2014);
– reconstruction of George Street in Belwood, from Nelson Street to Wellington Road 26; and
– the development of the Bonaire Highlands subdivision north of Sideroad 18 in Fergus.
Ross-Zuj said the new budget approach was an excellent process this year.
“Here it is February and we have our budget going out the door. It is a good budget, but it took a lot of cooperative work,” said Ross-Zuj.
She added there were a lot of good questions, good analysis of the figures and good teamwork.
Ross-Zuj also thanked councillor Fred Morris for chairing the budget meetings.
Morris echoed the mayor’s comments about the new budget process.
“I think it went very well and staff should be congratulated for their work … they brought some innovation to the process that I think gave all of us a better opportunity to understand the budget and to frame our questions better,” said Morris.
Despite this seeming to have taken a short time, Morris said staff worked on the budget months and months in advance.
