The December 8 meeting gave the administrators an opportunity to make their cases informally for the projects and capital items they want in the upcoming year. It also allowed councillors to get clarification and consider alternatives. There were no decisions made. That will come in the new year.
If everything were granted (and it won't be) the total increase in the tax bill would be just over half a million over the $3.9 million budget of 2009, and double what was spent from the tax levy for the same budget items sin 2009. Some items will simply be cut, others delayed, as council does its late-winter cutting to bring the budget in line.
The Fire Department pumper request counts for 10% of the proposed increase. The township is scheduled to purchase a new pumper to replace the 1984 that cost $69,000, 25 years ago. Cost estimates vary widely on the replacement. It is budgetted to cost $230,000 with $50,000 of that paid for this year from the tax levy. But new Fire Chief, Jim Harris has quotes from $180-280 thousand, depending on the seating capacity and options. He suggested that the township may want to look at a pumper which is better suited to the road accidents that dominate the fire department's call outs.
Works Director, Barry Thrasher, has a new plow truck in his sights. The good news for the taxpayer is that the municipality has saved enough in reserves to pay the anticipated $210,000.
Staff is recommending that the township set aside $200,000 a year for the next five years to fund a new backup well. If this is approved by council it would affect only those who are on town water.
Proposed roadwork takes a big bite out of the township's budget if the proposed work is done.
Work on Trenear Rd. is expected to cost $132,000. Fiddick Rd. work will cost another $75,000. On the plus side, there is another $271,000 slated to be done on roads, and it is being paid for from grants and reserves.
Community Services Director, Dan O'Brien wants to clean up some sore spots with any money he gets. He is asking for $30,000 to clean up the old arena site and make it safe. Lighting repairs are expected to cost another $10,000. Paving the Keeler Centre lot will take $150,000 of taxpayer money if it is all done. Add another $25,000 if you include paving the Castleton Town Hall lot.
Improvements and repair work on township-owned buildings and equipment could affect the budget by $129,000.
Rebecca-Goddard-Sarria has requested over $18,000 to complete her gateway signage project.
Add it all together and throw in a few small miscellaneous projects, and you have a sizeable request.
Now we watch to see what council will do with it.
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