At their General Committee meeting which will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 12, Huntsville councillors are expected to debate what to cut from the draft 2024 consolidated budget to be presented by municipal staff, which if approved as is, would mean a tax increase of more than 15 per cent.
“It’s a draft, I really want to make that point,” noted Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock. She said while council had been presented with the revenue and expenses in different departments, Tuesday will be the first time staff will present the consolidated budget to council.
“Until it’s actually delivered to us, I think everybody is just sticker shocked,” noted Deputy Mayor Dan Armour. “There are savings within that budget, there has to be,” he said, adding that he hopes council will be able to bring down the tax increase to below 10 per cent.
Armour said it’s a difficult year. He said providing the services people expect are being impacted by inflation which is pushing the cost up. “A load of gravel today for doing a road is like triple the cost it was a year ago,” he noted.
Huntsville Councillor Bob Stone called the draft increase outrageous and unacceptable. “Staff have released this draft budget and we know people are struggling but the cost of aggregates have gone through the roof. The Town is expanding and we need to provide more services but how can we do that with an acceptable percentage increase? It’s a huge conundrum for us,” said Stone, who also noted he would like to see tax increase kept under 10 per cent.
“It comes down to choices,” added Stone. “Do we want to cut services? Do we want to close the Summit Centre? The Summit Centre has never made money and never will make money but it’s really important for the people of Huntsville and that goes the same across the board, we are not just about maintaining roads. We are so much more than that and the people demand that of us.”
Council generally gives municipal staff a guideline to return with a budget within a certain range. For 2024, the top of that range was somewhere in the seven per cent mark, but staff returned with more than twice that increase. “When staff brings this outrageous number to us in a year of high inflation where people are struggling from the pandemic and trying to get their feed under them, I don’t want to be the thing that tips them over,” said Stone. “It’s important for council to always be mindful of what’s needed, what’s wanted and what’s possible.”
Doppler reached out to Huntsville CAO Denise Corry via email correspondence. She said that as per the budget guidelines, staff were instructed to bring back a 2024 draft consolidated budget in the range of between 3.6 and 7.2 per cent, which is the consumer price index in July 2023 up to 2x the percentage, explained Corry.
She indicated that over many months, staff have been completing a thorough review of their departmental budgets, while also considering corporate policies, bylaws and legislative obligations. In addition, Corry noted that “consistent quarterly budget reviews have informed financial projections and assisted with preparing the 2024 Draft Consolidated Budget.
“The 2024 Draft Consolidated Budget prepared by staff is a reflection of the resources/financial support required to meet the current levels of services, legislative requirements and support municipal infrastructure. As municipalities are not immune to the economic environment, inflation, growth and increased costs of goods and services have resulted in staff not being able to meet the directive of Council without further consideration of directives within existing policies and by-laws,” stated Corry.
“As this will be Council’s first opportunity to discuss the 2024 draft budget presented by staff, we look forward to obtaining input from Council in an effort to finalize a budget that will continue to support services within our community while keeping in mind the financial challenges that we are facing today in the current economic environment,” she added.
Again, the meeting takes place on Tuesday, December 12 at 10:30 a.m. Those interested can either attend in person or watch the live stream of the meeting. You can access the live stream, HERE.
Related:
Huntsville’s draft budget is currently sitting at a proposed 15.26% tax hike
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Bob Braan says
Of course 15.26% is just a ruse to make 12% seem palatable after they do a lot of “cutting” to make it seem like they are trying to minimize the financial impact to residents.
Don’t be fooled.
Huntsville doesn’t follow pesky budgets anyway.
Blowing big bucks on pet projects is what it’s all about.
“in a relatively short period of time, over one million dollars of taxpayer’s money has been spent or approved to be spent on unbudgeted items.”
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/huntsville-council/
Inflation is way down.
The increase should be related to inflation projected for 2024.
FAR less than 15%.
Allen Markle says
I hope councilors remember that they were the ones selected to do this job. They said they could do it and the people voted for them. I haven’t heard of councilors in other towns being dragged from their cars because they approved a 15.6% budget. (No I’m not suggesting violence: just a turn of phrase.)
I question the ability of the people who came up with 15.6% in the first place. There was a comment on Doppler a while ago that said, that as the town grows, costs will rise. That isn’t necessarily so, as a percentage, but if it is for Huntsville with it’s present office staff…..God help us!!!
And telling us costs are up is simply preaching to the choir. You think the people on the street haven’t noticed that yet? So let’s not mention a load of gravel again.
Councilor Stone: Your comment on the Summit Center is somewhat nonsensical. Unless you can give me a list of town operated services that DO make money. See if it includes the cemeteries, fire department, bus, library, roads service, parks (I won’t go there). Services like that. I contend we pay for them all. With our taxes!
Huntsville Council, you wanted the job, which I concede might be difficult. But it’s tough out here too. So give it a shot and get it done.
David Wexler says
I understand that public administrations operate differently than do households and businesses, however the people elected to public office come from heading up households and businesses and so at the very least understand the fundamentals:
1. You can’t spend more than you take in. (In fact you spend less so that you have some savings for a rainy day or for your retirement).
2. When revenues expand, you can expand spending, however when revenues contract, you of need must reduce your spending to achieve 1. above. (Note: Businesses and households cannot hold clients and employers ransom and demand more money…so why would governments feel able to do so through increased taxation?)
3. In order to survive (thrive?), you always need to be looking for efficiencies in and improvements to the ways you do things since the competition is not standing still. Governments don’t have any competition unfortunately, other than the voters having the right to vote an elected government out of office, but constant process improvement is always a good practice to follow.
Some suggestions for Huntsville administrators:
a) Stop floating trial balloons with voters in the form of news media articles sharing possible tax increases for 2024. It riles up the populace and doesn’t make you look good (or competent).
b) As elected representatives, show some moral fortitude. You understand the economic landscape for Huntsville residents. Don’t accept that things have to be a certain way. Set out a vision for Huntsville…i.e. “Always balances the budget”; “Has a reserve fund that is growing for rainy day use”; “Lowest taxes in Ontario; highest rated services”. I don’t say that these or others set are achievable…however, stretch goals certainly are never achievable if you don’t at least strive for them.
c) Be innovative with respect to your budgeting process. i.e., Start with a zero dollar budget and add things that you think are essential for the town, in order to see what the budget adds up to (and have a framework for defining “what is essential”); or, consider a zero dollar budget increase for 2024 and see what has to change in terms of spending and spending priorities to make this so.
Finally, I wish you good luck and await an update re the 2024 budget…both officially and subsequently, in the news.
Theresa Marsden says
I agree with Mr.Braan.Year over year inflated budgets are posted ahead of council meetings and tax payers are supposed to feel a windfall when council comes in a couple percentages less.This 15.6% projection is double / triple any CPP increase.,private pension increase ,public pension increase.Even the best GIC 1 year rate might be 6%.Inflation is lower,oil and gas ,wind and solar is lower.Whatever are you basing a 15.6% tax increase on.Even 8% is too high.Thankfully Town of Huntsville doesn’t operate a food chain!
Doug Golding says
If the employees were instructed to bring in a budget between 3.6% and 7.2% and failed to do so, maybe it is time to review their work performance. Someone should be reviewing their Goals and Objectives.
Bill Beatty says
Having been involved in councils where budgets came in at 3% or less for 10 consecutive years , I know this can be done . The initial ask of 15% by departments is wants not needs and will be reduced to needs only by a Council that should recognize that high interest rates, housing costs and food and heating costs are unmanageable for many taxpayers and adding an additional 6% tax increase on top of the other killing increases , as was done last year, exacerbates an already dire situation .
Say NO and don’t add to the problem of home ownership and retention. Help alleviate peoples struggles , don’t add to them ….Real needs NOT WANTS !!!!