A second look at the township budget here has resulted in a proposed 2013 local tax levy increase of 6.4 per cent, but the final budget is likely two months away from being passed.
“There’s still work to do … This is still in the preliminary stages,” Mayor Chris White said on Dec. 20, one day after council’s second special meeting to discuss the 2013 budget.
The proposed document includes $5,025,090 to be raised through taxes, up $304,275 or 6.4% from the 2012 figure of $4,720,815 (in 2012 council approved a 9.1% tax levy increase and three months later borrowed an additional $3.1 million to cover three capital projects).
White, who was recently appointed warden of Wellington County for two more years, said council’s goal is present Guelph-Eramosa taxpayers with a “blended tax rate” – including the township, county and education portions – of 3% or less.
“We don’t have an individual goal [for a Guelph-Eramosa increase],” said White. “These things can’t be isolated. Ultimately it’s only one taxpayer.”
The mayor described the draft 2013 budget as a “steady-as-she-goes” document, with many projects being carried forward from 2012.
The newest proposed budget, discussed during a special council meeting on Dec. 19, includes several changes since the township’s first public discussion of the budget on Dec. 5.
The total amount to be raised through taxation has increased $2,689 from the first meeting, which clerk Meaghen Reid said is largely due to an increase in equipment rental costs included in the parks and recreation budget.
Reid said other changes since the Dec. 5 meeting, include:
– removing replacement of the playground equipment at Marden Park, due to a lack of federal funding;
– adding $4,500 in parks and recreation capital budget to complete the parks and recreation master plan;
– adding $3,500 in the parks and recreation budget for the installation of wreath holders at the Rockwood cenotaph;
– adding costs for the installation of second molok disposal container in Rockwood;
– adding $1.9 million for reconstruction of Guelph Road 1, pending possible funding;
– removing the reconstruction of Guelph Road 3; and
– increasing the cost to complete the reconstruction of Side Road 20 from $700,000 to $800,000.
The township will host a public meeting to receive input on the proposed budget sometime early in the 2013.
White said the goal is to pass the final budget by the end of February to allow ample time for the township to obtain accurate year-end information.
Major costs
Capital projects in the 2013 draft budget include:
– almost $300,000 in parks and recreation projects, including expansion of the Rockwood cemetery ($35,000), replacing the roof and adding a concrete walkway at the former town hall ($35,000 total), adding auxiliary power connections at the Rockmosa community centre ($50,000), and two playground replacement projects ($50,000 each);
– $420,000 to complete paving of Jones Baseline, between Wellington Roads 124 and 22;
– $800,000 to reconstruct and pave Sideroad 20, from Jones Baseline to 5th Line;
– $1.18 million for water projects, including a new pumping station ($750,000) and $150,000 for a water main river crossing;
– $1.9 million for Guelph Road 1, from Paisley Road to Wellington Road 124; and
– $2.95 million in wastewater projects, the majority of which is earmarked for projects to increase capacity and convert the Rockwood pre-treatment plant from a syphon system to a pumping system.
White said the township’s $1-million office expansion in Brucedale is not included in the budget because it is covered through the $3.1-million debenture issued early in 2012. He expects the addition to be completed by “late spring.”
