Policing costs hit Central Frontenac preliminary budget hard

Jeff Green | Feb 03, 2016

Levy increase sits at $400,000 or 6.2%, but reserves remain at 2015 levels

Central Frontenac Council spent a day going through a line-by-line consideration of the township's 2016 budget last Friday, with department heads trooping up one after another to explain their spending requests.

Of all the numbers facing them, the largest impact comes from a $235,377 increase in the cost of policing, which the township has no option but to pay. That cost alone is responsible for a 3.5% increase in the amount the township will be requisitioning from ratepayers.

Among other fixed costs that are up this year are salaries – 0.9%; heat and hydro – 6%; and insurance – 4.4%. These increases are mitigated somewhat by an increase in provincial transfers under the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund of $80,000.

In order to keep the budget from slipping into double-digit increase territory, Public Works Manager John Badgley has deferred the purchase of a vehicle for one year, and has restricted major road work to the south end of Arden Road, and Henderson Road from Hwy. 7 north.

A request to make a donation to Pine Meadow Nursing Home for new windows has been deferred to later budget deliberations.

The budget that staff presented to Council last week was more bare bones than the one that came out of the meeting. However, that budget also saw a decrease in reserves to 16% of the annual budget from the current 17%. The recommended level, according to the township's auditor, is 20%. Council has restored the reserves to just under the 17% level.

Council will look once again at the budget in early March at their regularly scheduled meeting. No further special budget meetings have been scheduled and no date has been set for adoption.

“All I can say at this point is that these are draft budget numbers. Council will have chances to make alterations before the budget is finalized,” said Treasurer Michael McGovern.