The following article appeared in the December 12 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
Heading into next week’s budget vote, city staff have prepared a revised budget recommendation with a 3.58 per cent tax increase.
This is down from the 5.3 per cent increase recommended during a preliminary budget meeting Dec. 2, which worked out to about a $12 increase per month for the average taxpayer.
At last week’s meeting, Councillor Ian Findlay put forward a motion for staff to whittle the budget down to a 3.75 per cent increase. The motion passed unanimously.
Findlay said he was pleased to learn that staff was able to bring the increase down further than his request.
“It speaks to the needs of the residents and with the recession,” Findlay said, adding it reflects what councillors asked for.
While the budget is not set in stone and it is likely councillors will move some items back in and perhaps take others out, he said the increase should hopefully stay under four per cent.
Coun. Karl Wettstein agreed with the less than four per cent benchmark.
“I’m feeling optimistic,” he said, adding this year’s process generated much more discussion among councillors to guide staff.
“This is the beginning of the final process.”
One of the new service items that staff has removed is a council administrative assistant at $61,700 in 2009. Wettstein said this is likely to stay out, based on previously expressed opinions by council.
The other new services that staff recommend be removed from the budget are: free seasonal overnight parking on streets; two additional yard waste collection days; a communications, education and promotion coordinator for environmental services; a special events coordinator; four police officers; and clerical support for the children’s department in the library.
The total new service reduction, including the council administrative assistant, represents a savings of $812,500.
New services that staff continue to recommend include: clearing of snow windrow — the heavy snow-salt mixture left from plows at the end of driveways; a tree trimmer; and a supervisor of arts and culture.
The general consensus seems to be to reduce spending on services and focus on capital projects, Findlay said.
“Take advantage of low interest rates and contractor rates,” Findlay said, adding construction also creates good local jobs.
City staff are recommending scaling back some small capital projects, including new sidewalk construction. The newly recommended budget also includes savings in existing services — for instance, eliminating bus service on Christmas Day.
The recommended increased revenues will total $491,500, and include a 0.5 per cent increase in recreation fees.
Council plans to vote on the budget Monday, with the meeting starting at 7 p.m. in council chambers. If needed, the meeting will continue Tuesday at 7 p.m.
IN OTHER WORDS
The total new service reduction, including the council administrative assistant, represents a savings of $812,500.