Feature Article April 29
Feature Article May 20, 2004
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South Frontenac tries to keep budget in line
South Frontenac Council has finished their budgeting exercise, and will be presenting proposals at a public meeting in Sydenham next Tuesday night. Subject to what is said at that meeting, the budget will then be passed.
A summary of the tentative budget has been prepared by township treasurer Deb Bracken, breaking down the taxation being proposed for residents of each of the four districts. Because of area rating, taxes vary from district to district in South Frontenac.
The total amount of money to be raised in the township by taxation will rise by 10.83% in 2004, or a little over $800,000.
The major costs leading to this increase are a projected $142,000 decrease in transfers from the province of Ontario, staffing cost increases for a full time fire chief and a deputy treasurer (pro-rated for 6.5 months), for a cost of $87,000, an increase of $233,554 in the roads budget, and an increase of $133,414 in the policing contract.
The budget in Bedford district will see more of an increase than elsewhere as the result of a $111,000 increase in the roads budget, primarily due to increased road construction in 2004.
What this means to taxpayers:
In Bedford district, where the effects of property assessment increases is the greatest in South Frontenac, with an average assessment increase of 15.5%, the average homeowner will see a tax increase of just over 8%. In Loughborough, where property assessments only increased by an average of 11.5%, the average tax increase will be slightly under 5%. In Portland, where the average property tax increase was just under 13%, the average tax increase will be a shade under 6%, and in Storrington, where the average property assessment increase was just over 10%, the average property tax increase will be 3.28%.
For individual taxpayers, actual taxation will vary significantly from these averages depending on what individual property assessments came in at for the 2004 year. Those homeowners with no property assessment increases will see a significant decrease in property taxes for 2004, and those with large increases in assessment, will still see hefty property tax increases.
Other items affecting the budget were: a $65,000 expense for the cost of compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act; a $45,000 increase in municipal insurance; and a $22,700 increase in levies from conservation authorities.
South Frontenac considers what to do with garbage.
A report by Guy Laporte of the engineering firm Tottenham-Syms-Hubiki outlined some of the good and some bad news about the state of dumps throughout the township. In Loughborough district the waste disposal site is nearing capacity. A plan has been submitted to the Ministry of the Environment that, if accepted, would keep the dump open for four more years. If it is not accepted, Laporte recommends preparing for closure.
The Portland site is large and could potentially handle all of Portlands needs for 225 years, or the entire townships for 75 years. Unfortunately part of the land is a wetland and while it is possible to obtain approval to drain a wetland, it is only slightly less difficult than obtaining approval for a new site, writes Laporte. He recommends avoiding that part of the site for the time being, which will still leave 43 years of capacity at the site for Portlands garbage.
Bedford has several sites, but one of them, the Fish Creek site, has reached its capacity and the report recommends it be closed after Labour Day. A site at Crow Lake has already been closed. The Massassauga site will have 5 years of life if a new proposal for use is accepted by the Ministry of the Environment. The Salem and Bradshaw sites have significant life left in them, and the report recommends they be used. In all districts of the township save Bedford, garbage pick up is available, so the location of waste disposal sites is a concern for the township but not the individual members of the public. In Bedford, however, dump closings will lead to increased hauling distances for residents, and if the reaction from Central Frontenac residents to the closing of the Wilkinson road site is any indication, closing Fish Creek and Massassauga will cause a stir among South Frontenac residents.
ATV club seeks access to South Frontenac Roads
Pat Dawson, the president of the South Frontenac ATV club appeared before a Committee of the Whole meeting of South Frontenac Council last week asking that ATVs be allowed on township roads.
Dawson pointed out how prevalent ATVs have become, and made reference to their use having been legalized on provincial highways. Although she acknowledged the opposition to this that has come from the OPP, she said that information has been requested of the OPP on the impact of ATVs, but no response has been forthcoming. She also presented over 500 letters of support.
The ATV club is seeking the use of roads in South Frontenac to link up to trails that are located further to the north, and argued that it would be best to legalize them on all township roads rather than designating roads for ATV use.
The response from councillors to Dawsons proposals was less than enthusiastic, and Council did not indicate it was going to move forward on the matter.
