By Mike Simmons - Salmon Arm Observer
After cutting wants and needs from departments across the city, Salmon Arm council voted to defer its decision on the 2009 budget until the new year. As it stands, the city budget would create a three per cent increase in general taxation. On top of that is the transportation parcel tax of $120 per parcel, doubled from $60 last year, and a two per cent increase in sewer user fees. A further addition is a 7.3 per cent increase in water user fees to pay for the new water treatment plant. For a resident owning what the city has designated as an average priced home in Salmon Arm valued at $297,875, the three per cent increase would amount to $34.91.The transportation parcel tax was created in 2003 to build funds for asphaltic overlays on the city road network. Water and sewer user fees would increase to $451.71 in 2009 for a resident who paid $433.85 in 2008, an increase of $18.77.
Primary items in the 2009 city budget responsible for the tax increase include wages, implementation of the pesticide bylaw and increases in policing costs. Wage increases added up to $261,905. The increase includes CUPE employees, as well as projected fire department salaries, with two years retroactive pay. The fire department contract is currently under negotiation. Another primary source of the increase is the implementation of the bylaw banning cosmetic pesticide use on public property. Increases to parks, transportation and bylaw enforcement budgets related to the bylaw originally totalled $302,790. Council has reduced this to $162,790 so far. Policing cost increases are due to the addition of a half-time clerical position at $34,000, six months allocation for a 19th constable at $63,235 and a cost increase from the RCMP E Division at $67,582. Shuswap Greenways was included in the new budget. Council approved $45,000 for development, signage, construction and planning of the city’s greenways network. Removal of asbestos from a storage room at Memorial Arena was also approved, after it was determined the water shutoff for the building is situated in the room.
Mayor Marty Bootsma said the budget is a little tougher this year because of the economy. “Everybody always says it isn’t going to be easy, but in nine years I’ve never heard anyone say it is going to be easy.” Bootsma pointed out there are still demands to be met, and making further reductions will be difficult unless council wants to sacrifice more services. He noted a big part of the increase is the asphaltic overlay program for city roads. “If we don’t spend the money now, it’s going to cost us a whole lot more later.” Bootsma said the pesticide initiative is proving to be quite expensive. “I think we’re going to have to have a good hard look at our practices.” He said he would consider bringing forward some minor changes to the bylaw in the new year, allowing spot spraying of sidewalks and hard surfaces. He pointed out allowing weeds to deteriorate hard surfaces leads to hidden expenses such as long-term maintenance costs.
Coun. Kevin Flynn later moved to defer the budget decision, due to the tax reduction not being as much as he would like, and Coun. Ken Jamieson’s absence. “I still feel it should be something that all councillors vote on.” Newly elected Jamieson was present for the first day of the budget deliberations, but left at noon on the second day, Dec. 11. Flynn said the three per cent general increase was not as low as he wanted to go. He pegged the cumulative increases at closer overall to seven per cent. “I would like to have some more time to look at where we have cut.” Jamieson said he is not expecting the budget to change substantially in the new year. He said any politician would like to see the tax rate further reduced, but it is important the city does its best to maintain services. He pointed out there is little council can do to affect policing costs or wage settlements, and some services just have to get done. “A good part of the increase is due to forces we have little control in.” Regarding his early departure, Jamieson said council got a good amount of the work done, and the deferment allowed time for further consideration of the budget.“It is a process that doesn’t have to be done in a short period of time.”
Coun. Alan Harrison said deferment would give council a little more time to reflect. “Where we’re at, I think it would not be really accurate to say we have a three per cent tax increase.” Harrison pointed out accumulated increases would add up to an approximate eight per cent increase on residential tax bills. “We need to be up front with residents when they ask us.”Coun. Chad Eliason said this year’s budget process involved much cutting from all departments, but he felt people would be happy with the results. Coun. Debbie Cannon said council did not want to come back with a huge tax increase. She said she didn’t feel council could move the budget forward without Jamieson, or without more time to consider. Cannon said the amounts budgeted for implementation of the pesticide bylaw were a little overdone, including $35,000 for a pickup truck that would be used for multiple purposes. “I really felt in the budget process that there were a lot of expenses that were tagged because of the pesticide bylaw.”
Coun. Ivan Idzan said he knew some councillors would prefer to further reduce the increase to 2.5 per cent. He added he doesn’t know where the reduction would come from, as council has already reduced the budget well beyond what staff recommended to meet the city’s operational needs. Deliberations on the budget will resume Jan. 12 at the first council meeting of 2009.
No comments:
Post a Comment