Things are looking similar to last year’s budget but it’s still early in the process.
Based on initial estimates, the township would spend over 6.1 million dollars on operating, and over 3.8 million on capital this year.
3.3 millon of that would be raised from property taxes.
Treasurer Jodi MacArthur says that is based on last year’s tax rate.
She says because property assessments have increased seven percent since last year, a property valued at 200 thousand dollars is actually now worth 214 thousand, meaning ratepayers would pay 928 dollars in taxes if the budget was adopted in its current form.
Operating expenses that councillors suggest could see some alterations include building fees and by-law enforcement.
Councillor Lillian Abbott suggests revising building fees to be more in line with other municipalities so that they could cover more of the costs within the building department.
Doctor Recruitment is currently projected to cost Huron-Kinloss over 34 thousand dollars.
Mayor Mitch Twolan says it’s the type of program ratepayers have come to expect and believes the amount will stay the same.
He says there have been changes in recent years to how by-law enforcement is supplied in the township and staff will look at ways to keep costs in that area down.
By-law enforcement is budgeted at over 58 thousand dollars for 2009.
Council has given its endorsement of the budgets for both the Saugeen and Maitland Conservation Authorities.
Twolan says capital projects for roads and bridges are always the main budget concern for municipalities.
2.6 million is currently slated for those projects this year.
The township is still waiting to find out how much Building Canada funding it will receive from the federal government to go towards road and bridge work.
Staff are also still waiting for the budget proposals for the sports complex, fire department, and medical centre in Lucknow.
Twolan says council is in charge of what is really a multi-million dollar corporation and they have to do what is best for it.
He acknowledges the economic times aren’t the best and people have lost their jobs and is hoping higher levels of government provide the support Huron-Kinloss needs for capital projects.
