Central Frontenac Council - Dec.

Jeff Green | Jan 12, 2012

Draft budget calling for over $1 million increase in local taxation.

A lot of numbers were presented to members of Central Frontenac Council in their preliminary budget presentation, but the final line of the budget, line 1202, presents the most telling number of all - the total amount to be levied to Central Frontenac taxpayers to cover all of the township’s proposed spending. Last year that number was $5.393 million, and in 2012 it is $6.425 million, an increase of 19%.

A number of factors led to these numbers, including a projected decrease in provincial transfer payments for infrastructure of about $128,000; an increase in policing costs of about $60,000; $100,000 to be put in reserves for a new fire hall in Parham (up from $15,000 last year); some significant increases in fuel and insurance costs; cost of living increases; and an increase of over $450,000 in the capital budget.

The proposed capital budget includes $300,000 for a bridge on Crow Lake Road; $178,000 for paving Arden Road from Anne to Queen Street; $118,000 for improvements to Armstrong and Cross Road; $18,000 for 2 thermal imaging cameras; $420,000 for 2 tandem trucks with snow plows; $11,000 for a phone system upgrade; and $25,000 for a document management system.

In speaking to the budget, Chief Administrative Officer Shawn Trépannier said that if the township does not start to act now to make improvements to its fixed infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges, “it will face much higher costs in the future”.

In response, Councilor Frances Smith said, “There is no way we can increase taxes this much. Staff have to go back and sharpen their pencils. Our ratepayers can’t afford this kind of increases in municipal taxes.”

As it stands, the current numbers, when bundled with a relatively modest increase in the proposed levy from Frontenac County, and a 0% increase in the education rate, would bring a net increase in taxation in Central Frontenac to about 15%.

Township staff also estimated about a 1% increase in property assessment this year that can be attributed to growth, so taxes are slated to go up 14% for the average ratepayer in the township.

The Central Frontenac budget will undergo intensive scrutiny by Council at meetings scheduled over the next two weeks.

Ratepayers can expect the increase to be reined in by that process.

Habitat for Humanity looking to build in CF

CEO John Alkenbrack and Board Chairman Ron Darling of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Kingston and Frontenac came to Central Frontenac Council on Tuesday to talk about their plans to build a Habitat home in the township.

The mission of Habitat for Humanity is to break the cycle of poverty through providing home ownership with partnered low income families. They do so by seeking donations of land, monies, gifts in kind, donated trade services and volunteers to build houses, which upon completion are appraised at fair market value and sold to low income families.

Habitat Kingston Frontenac has built ten homes in the city of Kingston since 1995, the first eight on purchased land and two on lands donated by the City of Kingston.

Describing themselves as an organization that offers a “hand up” rather than a hand out, the organization carries the mortgage of the new home at zero interest with no down payment required and the family makes monthly mortgage payments set at approximately a quarter of their monthly income. The mortgage payments received are then deposited in a revolving mortgage fund to help fund the next home build.

In his presentation Mr. Alkenbrack said, “We are here tonight because our board of directors believe that the time is right to reach out and build in smaller communities outside of the city. A donation of land in Central Frontenac would not only help us to accomplish our goals, which is to build a minimum of eight homes in the next five years but will also help to establish the organization in this community for future builds. While our first choice would be a donation of land we are also considering the possible purchase of a property for a reasonable price.”

Following the presentation Councilor Guntensperger asked Alkenbrack if council could specify that the beneficiary of the new home be a resident of the township.

“Yes,” said Alkenbrack, “we would stress to our social workers to search the area for a family that would meet the necessary requirements, which include being of low income.”

Following the presentation council unanimously passed a motion directing staff to meet with representatives to determine an appropriate piece of municipal property to be used for a Habitat home build.

Heritage Railway Society seeks approval for mural project

Sally Angle and Ann Walsh of the Central Frontenac Railway Heritage Society (CFRHS) made a presentation to council seeking support in principle for a project that would see a free-standing 36 foot long and 12 foot high, roofed, double-sided placed at a permanent location in the area of the Frontenac Railway Heritage Park. The mural would highlight the history of the K & P railway line, which reached Sharbot Lake in 1876.

They presented a model of the mural that has been worked up by sign maker Rodger MacMunn, who said the project would cost approximately $30,000.

The mock up features a picture of the old K&P train with a history of its use in Sharbot Lake on one side. On the other side it commemorates a special excursion train that carried King George Vl (of The King’s Speech fame) and his wife Queen Elizabeth (familiarly known in modern times as the Queen Mother) from Renfrew to Kingston in 1939, during the first ever visit to Canada by British ruling monarchs.

The CFRHS needed support in principle for the project so they can apply for funding from sources related to the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.

The township will not be asked to contribute financially to the project.