Taxpayers here could be looking at an increase of around eight per cent in the local portion of their property tax bills.
A revised 2013 draft budget presented at a special council meeting on Feb. 21 would see council spending about $6.86 million, offset by revenues of just over $3 million, leaving a little more than $3.85 million to be raised through the tax levy.
In 2012, the municipality raised $3.56 million through taxation. The additional $280,000 in the draft budget projects to a levy increase of slightly less than 8%.
The figures include an increase of 2% to staff wages and a 2% increase to the municipality’s contribution to RSPs for Mapleton employees, who do not belong to the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System.
In 2012, the township spent $1,886,551 on wages, about $100,000 less than the proposed wage cost of $1,986315 in the 2013 budget draft. The 2013 figure factors in the addition of a part-time horticulturalist and a part-time administrative assistant.
CAO Patty Sinnamon also reminded council the actual 2012 figures were lower than budgeted because the municipality operated without a director of finance for much of 2012. The position has been vacant since last August.
The wage and RSP increases were confirmed by resolution following an in-camera session at the Feb. 5 council meeting. An increase of 5% for staff wages was originally included in a first draft of the budget presented at a special meeting on Feb. 4.
Mayor Bruce Whale said the in-camera discussion on wages was held because “we had to discuss where we wanted to position ourselves,” relative to other municipalities. At the Feb. 4 meeting, Sinnamon advised council that Mapleton wages were five to seven per cent below average.
In response to a question from councillor Jim Curry, interim finance director Theresa Armstrong explained that in 2012 the owner of a single-detached home at an average assessment paid $996 for the township portion of their tax bill.
Whale suggested the fact Wellington County kept its levy increase to 2.4% would help soften the blow of the proposed hike to the Mapleton portion.
Curry wondered if an increase of roughly 8% in assessment in the township would help offset the levy increase. Whale pointed out the municipality simply adjusts its mill rate to raise the amount of money needed, regardless of the amount of assessment available. However, the mayor noted that a huge increase in the value of farmland would be phased into the assessment base over the next five years, resulting in agricultural land bearing a larger share of the tax burden than is currently the case.
The draft budget includes about $275,000 worth of work on bridges and culverts in the township. That amount will barely scratch the surface of the long-term improvements needed on those types of structures, according to a report presented by public works director Larry Lynch.
The report shows over $11 million worth of potential work needed to bring all the bridges and culverts in the township up to standard. He urged council to set aside a specific amount to be spent on the structures each year, in order to allow for planned improvements.
“I need to know what council is prepared to spend per year so I can put together a program,” said Lynch, noting the bridge and culvert program could then be integrated into planned roadwork.
Lynch suggested some seldom-travelled roads may have to be closed or restricted to “horse and buggy or local traffic” in order to avoid expensive bridge repairs.
Council agreed to budget $70,000 for upgrades to the Drayton Fire Hall to accommodate the addition of EMS services.
Originally, $50,000 had been budgeted, but councillor Mike Downey questioned if the project could be completed for that amount.
“Fifty thousand dollars doesn’t go far when you get into concrete work,” he noted.
“Let’s raise this to seventy and hope we can do it for fifty,” agreed Whale.
The Maryborough Community Centre again came under discussion during budget deliberations. The draft capital budget contains proposed expenditures totaling $42,500 for accessibility improvements and a new cooler for the bar area. But councillors weren’t sure about the expense, given the low number of hall rentals.
“Do we still need two function halls (including the PMD Community Centre) or can we do something more efficient with the Maryborough hall?” asked councillor Mike Downey, who suggested focusing on renting the facility for seminars and meetings, instead of larger social functions.
Councillor Neil Driscoll wondered how well the Moorefield facility was being marketed.
“When you call about the PMD arena and that facility is booked, do we say we have another facility, are you interested in that one?” Driscoll asked.
Councillor Andy Knetsch said council has been discussing the future of the Moorefield hall since amalgamation and re-iterated his request from an earlier meeting to have council set a date to discuss the issue.
“We’re not making any money on the Maryborough Community Centre. We’re losing money on that facility,” said Knetsch, who suggested council have proposals for future hall usage prepared for review within two months.
Driscoll pointed out the recently-completed Mapleton Recreation Master Plan contains recommendations for use of and improvements to the Maryborough Community Centre, and suggested a review of that document would be a good place to start.
Council agreed to budget $10,000 to replace deteriorating entrance signs around the municipality. Council has been holding off on this project while awaiting word of plans for a new Wellington County entrance sign program. At the Feb. 21 meeting, While advised council that the county is only planning to erect signs on roads that serve as entrance points to Wellington County, so Mapleton would still be responsible for the majority of its own entrance signs.
Knetsch pointed out that signs are all about branding and marketing.
“We could be waiting another five years for the county to make up it’s mind. I think we’ve got to be proactive and get up some signs to let people know they are in the Township of Mapleton,” he stated.
Council will hold another budget session on March 26.
