Huntsville’s councillors continued their 2017 budget discussions at today’s General Committee meeting, ending with a proposed $13,510,113 tax levy – a 6.92 per cent increase over 2016. The 2017 draft budget still needs to go before Council at its regular meeting at the end of January and may see some further changes, but as of today here are the highlights of what’s in and what’s out.
New initiatives
An increase of $334,854 (up from a proposed $318,389) in operating funding accounts for 2.65 per cent of the overall 6.92 per cent increase. Of that, $165,720 is for new initiatives (up from a proposed $149,255) including:
Jeff Suddaby (left) and Kelly Haywood make a deputation to General Committee about the Chamber’s marketing initiative
Chamber of Commerce marketing initiative ($50,000, up from budget subcommittee’s recommendation of $0)
Although the budget subcommittee cut the Chamber’s requested fee for marketing services from the draft budget, several councillors felt that it was a worthwhile expense. Mayor Scott Aitchison in particular spoke passionately about the need for the group’s marketing services while emphatically defending it against a suggestion that perhaps those services should go out for RFP. (Watch for a more in-depth story on Doppler soon.)
Fund for Council chambers ($20,000, down from budget subcommittee’s recommendation of $30,000)
Council has, in the past, discussed the need for expanding or moving its chambers. Although a solution isn’t likely until 2019, said Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano, it’s wise to start putting money aside now. After initially voting to leave the funding at $30,000, councillors later voted to remove that amount from the budget and replaced it with $20,000 instead.
Sports memorabilia display fund ($3,250, up from budget subcommittee’s recommendation of $0)
In support of this funding, Councillor Jonathan Wiebe said, “I think this community continues to produce great performances by great athletes. A small, ongoing amount that can build up over time may be the way to go so that we can show off and be proud of some of our athletes.” He used judoka Jeff Allen, who recently brought home a bronze medal from the World Judo Championships, as an example.
Canada Day 150 Celebration ($10,000, one-time)
It’s Canada’s sesquicentennial and that calls for a bigger Canada Day celebration than usual. The town’s grant for fireworks ended in 2016 so it has earmarked $10,000 for this year’s celebration with a minimum of $8,000 of that to be spent on fireworks. Any other celebrations will be paid for with grants.
Staff well-being fund ($3,500)
Many municipalities and the District of Muskoka have a fund for staff appreciation, noted the Town’s CAO Denise Corry, and this ongoing fund could be used for annual events like a staff barbecue or Christmas party. Councillor Bob Stone, for one, was in favour of the expense saying, “I think this is a small amount for great reward. Our people work hard. This is a pat on the back and I think that’s hugely important.”
Increase to Parks operating budget for miscellaneous repairs and maintenance projects ($20,000)
Rather than have a number of requests brought forward to council, this increase is intended to apply to ongoing small fixes throughout the year that aren’t foreseen.
Heraldic Arms design ($5,000, one-time)
The Town of Huntsville doesn’t have a heraldic arms (or coat of arms) but it wants one.
New initiatives with no tax implications
New initiatives that will be funded from other sources like grants, the gas tax, and reserves, and therefore have no impact on this year’s tax levy, include:
- Sewer and sanitary sewer repairs at the CN Train Station
- Improved video surveillance at the Canada Summit Centre
- Additional Canada 150 and Tom Thomson celebrations
- Part-time summer staff to help with downtown parking enforcement
New initiatives that didn’t make the cut
Among the list of proposed new initiatives that weren’t approved for the 2017 draft budget were:
Park Drive safety study ($26,785)
Town staff presented a report to councillors earlier in the meeting with options for improving pedestrian and traffic safety on Park Drive in front of Huntsville High School. The item was removed from the budget pending further analysis of options and costs. (Watch for a more indepth story on Doppler soon.)
Health and Safety Coordinator new staff position
Online mapping of snowplows
Retrofitting the Don Lough arena for sledge hockey
CN Rail Station mould and asbestos removal and HVAC replacement
See the list of new initiatives that made it and those that didn’t here. (Note: this document does not include the changes noted above.)
Capital Asset Management Plan
Huntsville’s Capital Asset Management Plan is designed to ensure that its assets can be properly maintained for the future. Over the next 10 years, the estimated cost of replacing or rehabilitating the Town’s existing assets is $52,000,000, requiring annual funding of $5,200,000 to be sustainable. That annual amount will be phased in; the 2017 draft budget proposes a capital increase of $539,823 which is an additional 20.4 per cent over last year’s capital levy.
Roads
Of that increase, $400,000 is earmarked for transportation infrastructure (roads, bridges and culverts, and storm management systems). The capital levy increase accounts for 4.27 per cent of the proposed 6.92 per cent tax levy increase.
Future capital asset increases
In future years, the plan will be increased by these amounts:
- Transportation Infrastructure $400,000 until 2018, $150,000 thereafter
- Parks 35 per cent until 2019
- Cemetery 20 per cent until 2023
- Algonquin Theatre 5 per cent
- Muskoka Heritage Place 9 per cent
- IT (no change)
- Fire 2 per cent
- Facilities 25 per cent until 2021
- Fleet 36 per cent until 2021
See a summary of the 2017 draft budget here (Note: this document does not include the changes noted above). The budget must still be approved by Council at its next meeting on January 23 and may see further changes.
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