Addington Highlands passes 2021 consolidated budget

Craig Bakay | May 12, 2021

Addington Highlands Council passed the Township’s consolidated budget for 2021 at its regular (online) meeting Tuesday.

“It’s (the budget) good news, considering what we’ve been through,” said Reeve Henry Hogg.

CAO/Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed said the budget includes estimated operating expenditures of $6,741,812.18, estimated pre-levy revenues of $1,545,567.18 and an Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund grant of $2,053,400.

“The capital budget totals $1,325,900 with $1,319,000 being financed through reserves, reserve funds, deferred revenue and other governmental funding and $6,900 through the levy,” she said. “The net amount to levy is $3,149,745.”

This is an increase of 1.81 per cent over last year.

As a result, the residential tax rate for 2021 is 0.00607848. This is a 1.2 per cent increase to the rate over last year.

She said that unlike previous years, there will be no increase to assessment this year.

“And we have just received word that we will be in a freeze for assessment for 2022 as well,” she said. “This means that any growth will be captured only from new lots being created and building permits.”

“It could be a lot worse,” said Hogg.

Code of Conduct

After and around-the-table Alphonse and Gaston routine, Council decided Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch would represent Addington Highlands in an hour-long telephone meeting session with associate minister for children’s and women’s issues Jill Dunlop on the topic of municipal councils’ codes of conduct.

“It was addressed to me but I think it means I’m supposed to pick somebody,” said Reeve Henry Hogg.

“I’ll do it but I’d like to give Henry every opportunity,” said Fritsch.

“I think it should be the deputy reeve,” said Coun. David Mills.

“Or a newcomer,” said Fritsch, referring to this being Mills’ first term on Council.

Birds

It looks like the birds calling the Flinton arena home may be getting a reprieve.

In an earlier meeting, Council asked Chief Building Official David Twiddy to look into buying bird netting to keep out the feathered pests, whose droppings were making a mess but the cost came as a surprise.

“It’s $56,000,” Twiddy said. “And that’s just for bird netting.

“It kinda scared me.”

“We might as well just run screening around the arena,” said Coun. David Miles.

“We’ll maybe have to look at that,” said Twiddy.

“Or, we all have our own little solutions,” joked Dep. Mayor Tony Fritsch.

Water motion

Council decided not support the Town of Fort Erie’s motion requesting that the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks consider legislative changes that would permit the expansion of source water protection to aquifers and private services.

“That may be fine for cities with municipal water and sewer to consider but it would be a huge expense for rural municipalities,” said Reeve Henry Hogg.

“There’s always somebody looking out for us,” said Coun. Helen Yanch.

Waste increase

Roads and Waste Supervisor Brett Reavie reported that there has been an increase in waste site traffic of late.

“There’s been a lot of tipping fee items being brought in,” he said. “I guess that’s to be expected with spring cleaning and moving.”

Permits

CBO David Twiddy noted an increase in building permits so far and predicted a record year.

“We had 113 permits last year and we’re at 80 right now,” Twiddy said.