It has been several years since a county council budget has passed unanimously, and the vote on Feb. 27 continued the pattern of the past few years.
Councillor Lou Maieron congratulated finance committee chairman John Green for bringing in a budget that sees a spending hike below 3%, but he was concerned about a couple of items.
The county advanced the Fergus police station project to this year, and Maieron pointed out officials still do not know the cost they will face to help pay for a new court house in Guelph.
“We could have a very large escalation,” he said if the city suddenly brings on the Provincial Offences Act project on line.
Green said staff had checked with city officials, and they have not yet selected a site for the building.
“We’re still putting reserves for it,” Green said. “It’s not going forth in a hurry.”
As for the Fergus police station, Green said the financing this year would not have an effect on the budget in coming years.
Councillor Lynda White, the county liaison to the Police Services Board, said there is billions in infrastructure money available from the federal and provincial governments for “shovel ready” projects, and she said county staff have already asked if the police station will qualify.
“That’s the reason it was moved forward,” she said, adding the current station is very overcrowded.
Maieron said when Guelph decides on its courthouse, the county will not have much say, and he fears a big hit for Wellington.
Treasurer Craig Dyer pointed out virtually all the money the county needs will be in reserves by the end of next year.
“The only issue is the time the project goes forward.”
Councillor Walter Trachsel said he saw no harm in putting off the Fergus building. “In the real world, if this was the provincial government, you’d be put on a ten year waiting list.”
Warden Joanne Ross-Zuj cited major maintenance work needed at the OPP stations in Fergus and Palmerston, and said the committee had to decide how much to spend on buildings when it might be moving soon.
Green said he was not sure he was prepared to amend the budget.
Councillor Chris White said with infrastructure grants coming, having cash in reserves for projects “is the way to go.”
Social services
Councillor Gord Tosh, the county liaison to the joint county and city social services committee noted Guelph councillors had defeated the social services budget at a committee meeting with a 4-4 tied vote, and wanted to check the county administration fees. He said he is sure there is no “padding” by the county, and he is comfortable with the county passing the social services budget.
Since the county runs social services, Guelph, which pays the lion’s share of that budget, will have to comply with the county decision. He said the city vote was more a reporting issue than a budget issue.
Councillor Rod Finnie had concerns about plans for facade changes at the county museum’s archives project.
Heritage committee chairman Brad Whitcombe said he would be pleased to have his committee reconsider that issue to preserve heritage features.
Maieron, too, had concerns about the archives project. He said it went from $3.5-million to $4.5-million in the past month, and he was not sure why.
“None of this information came forth at county council,” he said.
Whitcombe read a list of changes his committee prepared, and explained how the project had expanded, and he noted there is work to be done at Aboyne Hall, too.
Maieron said Whitcombe’s response was “a wonderful report. It’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”
Councillor Jean Innes, too, said the county has a process, and she wondered why changes were being discussed at budget.
“If we approve the budget, we don’t have a chance to discuss [the increase]. It doesn’t make sense to me,” Innes said.
Chief Administrative Officer Scott Wilson pointed out that at the January county council meeting, the architect had outlined the project, and he added that if council does not like the final cost, it can reject it at the tender call. He said the Clifford library, which had its first tender rejected, “comes to mind.”
Treasurer Craig Dyer told council that the increase had been part of the January council package.
Maieron, though, argued that while the increase was in the information, there was no reason given.
He said if councillors are to have faith in the committee system, they should see that type of information coming to council.
But councillor Chris White said he had noticed the increase in January, and he received the information.
“I asked the treasurer,” he said. “It was open and transparent.”
Councillor Barb McKay said she remembered hearing an explanation of the increase at the January council meeting.
Maieron said all he would have liked to see was a motion that the increase be approved for some stated reasons. “That would have been enough.”
Councillor Bob Wilson concluded the debate by stating, “There’s no question in my mind we could butcher the budget until we get it down to zero … This budget is reasonable. It’s ridiculous to chop it.”
Council then voted on the budget and it carried, with Maieron and councillor Mike Broomhead opposed.
