24% proposed CF budget increase makes Mayor feel queasy

Craig Bakay | Jan 29, 2020

Central Frontenac staff presented a 2020 budget last Friday morning (January 24) in Sharbot Lake that featured a 14.8 per cent increase in the tax rate.

Put another way, that would represent an increase in the levy to ratepayers off 24% per cent or $2 million than last year. Put yet another way, that represents an increase of $185 for every $100,000 of property assessment.

“Even if you say it fast, it still makes one puke,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “We recognize all of these projects here have to be done but realistically, what can we afford to do?”

As the meeting drew to a close, Council instructed staff to come back with a much more modest budget.

While Clerk-administrator Cathy MacMunn asked a couple of times what sort of increase would be acceptable — 4, 5 or 6 per cent, Dep. Mayor Tom Dewey insisted “we have to do better than five.”

“Aim for 3 per cent,” said Councillor Bill MacDonald.

Treasurer Michael McGovern suggested they could take out a loan for a new $700 pumper for the fire department and $1.4 million for roads.

“Maybe borrowing is an option but we’re still going to have to find savings,” said Councillor Brent Cameron.

And speaking of the fire department, Cameron also commented that this year’s fire budget increase only amounted to about $40,000. But the fire budget has increased substantially in recent years.

In 2016, the fire department budget was $838,054. Following a consultant’s report suggesting deficiencies in both equipment and computer software, that went up to $1,054,222 in 2017.

In 2018, the budget presented by then-fire chief Greg Robinson raised that to a whopping $1,634,702.

In 2019, that was lowered somewhat to $1,442,134, which would appear to be a new-normal, with this year’s fire budget pegged at $1,483,059.

And while CAO MacMunn insisted this was in no way a “wish list” budget, there was one curious line, $13,000 for “social media,” which she explained was to hire a consultant to “set up their social media presence and train a couple of staff members.”

Every 1 per cent levy increase represents $82,000 or an additional $9 for every $100,000 of assessment.

Council is holding more budget meetings in early February.