Seniors here want to know how councillors plan to hold the line on taxes in the coming term.
At a recent all candidates meeting in Harriston, current and prospective councillors were questioned on how they plan to restrict taxes following four years of substantial increases to taxes, services and hiring of employees.
The question was directed only to prospective councillors, not to the candidates for mayor or deputy-mayor.
Rick Hembly
Incumbent councillor Rick Hembly agreed quite a few people were hired in the past few years.
At the same time, he said “We have done a lot of work in the community.” Unfortunately, Hembly also foresees layoffs coming down the line because that work is now completed.
As for holding taxes down, Hembly did not foresee Minto taking on any more large projects in the next four years. He hoped to hold the line on taxes and user fees.
David Turton
Incumbent councillor David Turton said he is inclined to think similarly to Hembly. He, too, foresaw streamlining in the accounting and public works departments.
“But that will have a lot to do with the new council.”
As for holding down taxes, Turton said, “It’s tough. With some of the infrastructure we’ve had to deal with in the past two years, they’ve been high [cost] items.”
He said council tried to limit the work to projects it felt really needed to be done.
Ron Elliott
Council candidate Ron Elliott said council faces numerous types of expenses and, “Everything costs money. In order to raise revenues, there are two ways.”
He said council can either raise taxes, or find additional sources of cash. Those types of revenue could be through economic development.
“If you grow your community, you can spread the taxes within the community,” he said.
If an industry or a large commercial building is brought in, Elliott said that is another source of revenue. He said some people consider roads and services into new subdivisions a cost for the municipality.
“No,” Elliott said, explaining subdivision agreements require “developers to pay for the ticket.”
As a result, he said, Minto needs to make economic development its strength and goal in the future.
Glenn Bell
Council candidate Glenn Bell spoke on his favourite topic: “Where is my money going?”
He is a firm believer in the theory that more people in the community and contributing to it, the more you can spend.
“But you don’t spend until you accumulate that money,” he said.
Bell said, “We should really encourage building instead of discouraging it. We need as many taxpayers as we can afford, without changing the concept of a small town community.”
He believed there were many ways of reducing spending at the town of Minto administration – but there would need to be a real review of who is needed and who is not needed.
Mary-Lou Colwell
Council candidate Mary-Lou Colwell said the question directly relates to her area of expertise.
“I can see holding the taxes – to a point. But the one thing not brought up is the township reserves.”
She said a certain amount is required for future development and emergencies. They have to be a certain level. She suggested if costs can be kept down, any excess could be used to build those reserves which, in turn,would hold the need for increases in the future.
Ron Faulkner
Council candidate Ron Faulkner said in respect to human resource management, there are pretty basic steps to approach that subject.
He said there is a job description, accountability, and then people assess need.
“And, there’s a difference between need – and nice to have.”
Faulkner said his goal is to ensure Minto is a great place to work and people want to be there. That is when people do their best work, he stressed.
In respect to holding taxes, Faulkner said he would be new on the slate and have to revisit the budget and study areas where the town could save money.
“I hope in the future not just to hold taxes, but to reduce them,” he said.
John Brown
Council candidate John Brown said that as a taxpayer “I’ve seen my taxes go up, and I don’t like it. I’m a true Scot – I’m cheap. I cut back wherever I can.”
But he also realizes there are costs the municipality has no control over, such as the HST, that touch everything.
He said Minto Sports has to have an extra $9,000 per year for ice time because of the HST.
As far as lowering taxes, as long as the federal and provincial government keep downloading cost, he is uncertain how to hold taxes let alone decrease them until that situation changes.
“I will make sure I cut unnecessary expenses I see. That’s all about I can promise.”
Wayne Martin
Incumbent councillor Wayne Martin noted that as he bas mentioned before,Minto, heading into the end of 2010, has a reserve of $5.3-million, but there is an external debt of $8.7-million.
He said he advocated a review of the administration for the past six years. That would include streamlining of staffing, which would affect the town’s spending.
But, he said, that would affect services. He cited discussions four to five years ago when there were talks about closing an arena.
“Financially, it is an issue we will have to deal with down the line,” Martin said. “The real point, is that the business side of Minto has gotten a little out of whack, and we need to bring that back into alignment.”
It comes down to controlling spending, Martin said. “It’s basic math. In a community of 9,000 people, such as Minto, there is an end to the spending, and a place where it has to stop.”
He said the federal and provincial government have indicated that the flow of grants is going to dry up.
“So, we have to adjust to do that. The budgets the next council sets will have to be very, very frugal.”