By Pepper Parr
November 19th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Council spent all of yesterday deciding what could be cut from the budget and what couldn’t be cut. The 22 item list of possible cuts didn’t fare all that well. They kept the big items, including money for a park in Councillor Sharman’s ward.
The budget at the end of the meeting is set out below:
The seven members of Burlington City Council will take part in a Regional Council meeting on Wednesday where they will decide on how much money the Region needs to get through the next fiscal year. The Police Services Board has asked for an increase of 13% which is going to work its way to the Burlington budget.
Council will meet on the 25th – which is when you get to hear the good news.
Later today we will report on how council worked its way through the proposed amendments. They didn’t save a dime. They came close to changing some of the leaf removal program. THAT would have saved $250,000 had it passed.
In the context of controlling costs an old saying (later reformulated by Andrew Carnegie) wisely stated, “take care of the pennies and the pounds (dollars in our case) will take care of themselves”. Many politicians and in this case COB have trouble taking care of hundreds of thousands of dollars. T-shirt anyone?
You read my mind Joe when preparing our Nov 18 delegation. I talked about my mother’s budget and quoted this saying but had to remove it to meet our 5 min delegation time. If we had councillors with my dear mother’s budgeting forethought we would be in a much better position. My school party new dress did go on the wanted list and somehow, through overtime or picking up some casual cleaning work she always managed to send me out that day as nicely dressed as my classmates. She passed in 2006 but her wisdom and sayings such as you quoted live on.
The “Love Your Neighbour Program” must be cancelled period. Councilor Kearns brought an Amendment to the 2025 Budget on November 18th to reduce the $500.00 per party amount to $250.00 per party without knowing all of the facts! The City also pays the insurance costs for each party, plus taxpayers pay for Staff time to assist with organizing these parties and setup of these parties..
The Staff member from this department said insurance cost was $300.00, which the City pays per party.
This Amendment decision has been set aside until the full costs of this program are realized.
As it stands right now, until any changes are made, this program remains at $500.00 per party plus $300.00 for insurance, setup and staff time to do it all.
Our Mayor said that hundreds of residents apply for this. What is the true total cost to taxpayers for this program?? And why are taxpayers being forced to pay for it??
And the $10,000 community project giveaways.
Yes Anne,
I forgot to mention this one!!
This too should also be cancelled immediately.
We as Taxpayers in Burlington are already paying for several Full Time Staff in “Roads, Parks an Forestry” at the City of Burlington for these services. Why is Councilor Paul Sharman adding $100,000 additional dollars for maintenance at Burloak Park to the 2025 Property Tax Budget?
This is a duplication and additional money that Burlington Taxpayers should not have to pay for – Twice!!!
Absolutely Appalling and Not warranted!
With the current crime rate increasing in Burlington and our neighbour communities Police Service $ increase is a no brainer imo.
What park is needed in Sharman’s ward?
Editor’s note: BurlOak Park – not needed – he wanted funding to cut the weeds. More on that when we publish the debate on the 22 items that were up for budget consideration.