Parks and recreation job cuts to cost ratepayers $55k
Posted January
30, 2012.
The 2012 budget process in New Tecumseth was moving forward
under the assumption that the Province was ending the Ontario Municipal
Partnership Fund (OMPF) which in 2011 provided $167,800 to the Town. An additional information item included on tonight's final
budget working session agenda by Mark Sirr, Manager of Finance,
says the Province is extending the grant for another year adding
$151,100 in unanticipated revenue, lowering the amount required
by taxation to $20.3 million, a 4.55 per cent increase or $873,768 higher than last year.
According to the updated "tally sheet" the levy was actually
poised to grow from a projected five per cent to 5.34 per cent, prior
to the OMPF injection, because the "reorganization" of the parks and
recreation department last week will cost $55,642 - believed to
include the severance packages for three employees who were deemed
"redundant." The Town's press release which did not provide specific
details, suggested the "reorganization" will save about $100,000 in
operational costs. At this point, Mr. Sirr's report suggests the average property
tax bill on a home assessed at $298,205, would pay $65.45 for the
municipal share only. When County, waste management and education are
factored in, the total average bill would be $3,067.33 an increase of
$85.96 or 2.88 per cent. However, that final figure is still fluid because council has
not yet tackled the budget outside of listening to department pitches,
and working through the package. Tonight's meeting will deal with
capital projects. Those included in the draft budget total about $16
million - of which $124,223 will be collected from taxes. New long term
debenutres will pay for $7.8 million; $3.2 million from reserves; and
$4.7 million from development charges. Items not included total about $5.1 million, of which $2.8
million would come from taxation. It's the "below the line" items that
will garner the most attention tonight - including the recent requests
from parks and recreation and public works. Tonight's meeting begins at 7 pm and will take place at the
fire station in Alliston.
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