It would be nice to have a person for this position but I think in these times it is time to rethink the spending priorities as you are considering with the budget process. What about reducing staff rather than increasing it. If you really have to have someone for this position, how about from within current staff ? A lot of people will find a tax increase(average) of $360 per annum too high in these economic times.
If we really have to have a person, how about a wage freeze or at least a lower increase for any new bargaining with employees for expiring contracts since they seem to be immune from layoffs such as those at Linimar , U of G, the hospital, etc. JS