The following article appeared in the February 6 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
It’s crunch time at city hall. Last night, staff presented the first half of the proposed 2008 budget to council. There were no decisions. The three-hour meeting was mostly preparation for budget night.
One major issue is whether the budget will include 20-minute bus service, which would mean a slightly bigger increase to the tax rate. That will be discussed tonight.
Yesterday, six departments presented their budgets. Council will decide what should and shouldn’t make the cut on Feb. 19. Here are some highlights of what’s on the table.
CITY HALL CLEANUP
The new city hall is scheduled to open in mid-August and with that comes costs. There’s $1.8 million in this year’s capital budget and another $1.3 million is forecast for 2009. The city has also budgeted for six new employees, mostly cleaners, which will cost $175,800 this year and about $346,100 next year.
CULTURE OF CONSERVATION
Now that the city has a community energy plan, they need someone to manage it, right? The environmental services department has asked for some extra cash to create such a position. The community energy plan project manager would manage all of the ongoing projects that fall under the plan and also build community relationships to further expand it.
The cost? $97,800.
ONE MORE LAWYER
For the second year in a row, the city’s legal department is asking council to find room in the budget for a new municipal lawyer. Last year, the position was denied. This year’s request is for an $104,700 position, and it goes above the base budget. Lois Payne, city solicitor, said the need for legal services within the municipality is on the rise.
SNOWSHOES NOT REQUIRED
Sidewalk snow removal is still included in the 2008 budget, though it was identified as a service that may be reduced or cut if council adopts a 20-minute bus service. Derek McCaughan, director of operations, said that’s still a possibility, though it may not result in immediate savings. “Even if a decision is made to review service, it will not have a financially significant impact for 2008.”
PLAY SAFE
Making sure playgrounds remain safe for children was one issue raised by the operations department.
On top of its base budget, the department has requested additional funding for a new playground inspector/repair person.
The industry standard is monthly inspections. In Guelph, inspections occur on a quarterly basis. The cost of the new position is $60,000.
HR ADDITION
On top of its base budget, the human resources department is asking council to approve a new position for an organizational development specialist/human rights adviser. The cost is $91,900 and includes salary, benefits and equipment.
LEAF NO TRACE
Right now, the city collects yard waste twice a year — once in the spring and once in the fall. A new proposal, which was brought to council for consideration but isn’t yet in the budget, would increase that to four times a year. The cost would be an extra $90,000.
BRINGING BACK THE WET PLANT
The big-ticket item for the environmental services department is reopening the municipal composter. In this year’s capital budget, $2.55 million is budgeted. There’s another $2.7 million earmarked for next year. But the limited funding was a red flag for at least once councillor. “It seems like that might be a little light to me,” Councillor Bob Bell said.
ROAD WARRIORS
The operations department is planning to introduce a “road patrol” that would operate every day of the year. The means staff would work around the clock to deal with emergencies such as downed trees or broken traffic lights. Right now, staff are called in and work overtime. The program would cost $15,000.
GREEN THUMBS
The operations department wants to hire 12 students to improve park maintenance across the city. The service is budgeted at $169,000 on top of the base budget.
SORTING PATROL
Blue. Green. Clear. Some people seem to be forgetting that Guelph has three waste streams. In order to get Guelph’s sorting back on track, the environmental services department wants to budget for a curbside adviser. That person would be on hand to educated citizens. The cost including salary, benefits and equipment is $85,500.
FIRST AND LAST REQUIRED
The big moving day may be slated for August, but the city will continue paying rent on its leased facilities even after the new city hall is completed. This year, lease costs will total $645,100. In 2009, that drops to $54,500. By the time 2010 rolls around, the city will be in the clear.
TURNING OUT THE LIGHTS
There’s hope council will approval a new position for an Energy Conservation Co-ordinator at a cost of $91,400. This individual will be responsible for energy reduction initiatives in city facilities.
“I would hope a lot of efficiencies would have been built into the new buildings to begin with,” Coun. Ian Findlay said.
Murray McCrae, manager of corporate property services, said there’s still more work to be done. “Even though a building is efficient, there’s still that human factor in there.”
MORE THAN A COAT OF PAINT
Keeping the city’s recreation centres, museums and other facilities functional is going to take a major capital investment. This year, there are plans to pump $1.5 million into reserves that will be used for building renewal.
GOODBYE SUBBOR
The conclusion of the SUBBOR lawsuit will save the city $800,000 this year. The waste-processing firm, Super Blue Box Recycling Corporation, sued the city for $32-million and lost last year. An appeal has been launched, but the city still expects relief from much of the financial burden.
BIG COSTS FOR MANAGING INFRASTRUCTURE
In response to new requirements from the Public Sector Accounting Board, the city needs to inventory and attached a value to all of its municipal infrastructure by 2009. The total cost associated with the asset-management system is $870,000.
COMMUNITY GIVING
Funding requests from the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, Hospice Wellington and Guelph General Hospital are included in the 2008 capital budget and spread out over several years. Hospice Wellington has requested $1 million for a residential hospice. Guelph General has requested $1.19 million for its MRI and emergency mental health service. The art centre would like $60,000 for upgrades to the heating and cooling system.
PROPOSED TAX HIKE
4.3%
without changes to transit
4.6 to 5%
with 20-minute transit service