Georgina residents can add their 2 cents to town's 2019 draft budget

Budget chats and online survey part of town's attempt to garner public input for 2019 budget process

Yorkregion.com
November 14, 2018
Heidi Riedner

The town’s 2019 draft budget gets tabled at council Dec. 12 and public input is supposed to be an integral part of the process.

A series of budget chats hosted this month by the town’s acting chief administrative officer Dave Reddon and treasurer Rob Wheater, however, have failed to garner significant turnout from area residents to date, despite the fact the budget will have a direct impact to their pocketbook.

Town spending was also a key issue during the municipal election. Many candidates and residents put town projects, staffing and overall expenditures under a microscope during the campaign, with some calling for a return to a line-by-line review of the budget and all calling for what they termed "more" fiscal responsibility and accountability.

For example, the town’s operating budget during the past four years has increased from $31.3 million to $40.5 million, which represents a 29 per cent increase.

The town's corporate communications manager Tanya Thompson said the increase is due to a number of factors, including growth, inflationary pressures, legislative requirements, service level changes, and a substantial increase to reserves for repair and replacement of assets.

Last year, tax levy supported expenditures were $76,238,870 before consideration of contributions to reserves.

That included $51,550,170 for town operations and services and $24,688,700 for capital investment.

Significant items added to the town’s operating budget last year included seven full-time and five temporary/part-time positions, as well as an increase of $468,450 (1.19 per cent of the tax levy) in contributions to discretionary reserves.

As of Jan. 1, 2018 the total amount of reserve funds was $37.7 million compared to $26.5 million as of Jan. 1, 2015.

While not many residents have taken the town up on the opportunity to attend the recent budget chats, those who have have raised a gamut of issues with Reddon and Wheater.

That includes sustainable taxes, as well as more investment in Pefferlaw, more economic development, a proactive approach to bylaws rather than reactive, permanent washroom facilities at Holmes Point, more tennis courts, improvements to Bonnie Park and a focus on services such as roads, parks and lake access.

An online survey for residents to prioritize spending and identify what they would consider an acceptable tax increase has been extended to Nov. 18.

Last year, roads and economic development topped the priority list of items for 200 Georgina residents who filled out a survey that asked what they wanted to see in the budget.

Both items received increased support with $2 million more being invested into roads over the previous year.

Economic development received $100,000 to implement a business incentive program geared toward attracting new investment to the town.

Major capital items included funding for the new Pefferlaw Fire Station, repair/reconstruction of McCowan Road, Duclos Point Road, Smith Boulevard and Church Street, and design-related work for West Park, the MURC, Phases 2 and 3 of The Link and the new Civic Centre.

The last of four budget chats takes place Nov. 18 at the Pefferlaw library from 1 to 2 p.m.

You can find the budget survey online at georgina.ca/budget or pick up a hard copy at the Civic Centre or three library branches.

You can also email your comments to budget@georgina.ca