By Pepper Parr
November 14th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
City Council is being asked to:Endorse the 2025 Operating Budget including any approved budget amendments to be applied against the proposed net tax levy amount of $264,328,845
There are 22 amendments to the proposed budget that is before Council.
Two in particular suggest the members of Council might be listening.
Provide a one-time transfer of $80,000 from the current balance in the Mundialization Reserve Fund to the Severe Weather Reserve Fund comes from Councillor Nisan – who was one of the Councillors who travelled to Japan recently.
The other was submitted by Councillor Kearns, who didn’t get to go to Japan; she wanted to see a one-time transfer of $150,000 from the current balance in the Mundialization Reserve Fund to the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund.
Kearns also wants to re-allocate existing resources from other parts of City operations to enable more efficient, technology-enhanced communications and to support the Web & Digital Marketing Advisor role. No savings here, Kearns just wants to move $148,301 from one department to another.
A move that will make Anne and Dave Marsden very happy is to: Adjust the rented facilities within the Spencer Smith Park portion of this investment to 2 basic portable units in a more centralized location within the park and redirect any resulting rental savings to deliver increased operations hours at Discovery Landing (7am and holidays).
Councillor Bentivegna had a total of nine changes he wanted to see in the budget; he has usually suggested more changes than any other Councillor – most of his past recommendations were not passed.
Kearns wants to remove $200k of the annual provision to the Innovation and Transformation Reserve Fund and increase the annual provision to the Infrastructure Renewal Reserve Fund by $200k to replenish the fund after $2M draw-down to fund storm water work and local road resurfacing.
Councillor Nisan wants to see a one-time transfer of $65,000 from the current balance in the Council Special Initiatives Reserve Fund to the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund
Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund is a sort of piggy bank that Council can dip into to cover unexpected item that crop up during a fiscal year.
Ward 3 took the hardest hit during the July floods. Water flowed through the community and down onto Hwy 407.
The highest item in the list is $2,000,000 item that had no impact. Councillor Nissan wanted to draw $2M from the Infrastructure Renewal Reserve Fund to accommodate the addition of the $2M Local Road Resurfacing Program into the 2025 budget. Doing so allows us to fund local road resurfacing and storm water work explained Nissan.
Council is being asked to endorse the 2025 Operating Budget including any approved budget amendments to be applied against the proposed net tax levy amount of $264,328,845
If all of the budget changes are approved Council will have cut the budget by 2,380,980.00 or 8.77%
Councillor Sharman wants better park maintenance at the BurlOak park in his ward.
The only Council member to look for additional money was Councillor Paul Sharman who wanted $100,000 to increase park maintenance and horticultural service vs. current part-time service and minor contracted weed control. Park usage is increasing with events and heavy patronage from around the Region. We are experiencing continuing complaints.
This looks like a “get me re-elected” budget from a Council that is feeling weary.
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I think that the most interesting proposed amendments will be those offered by the Mayor herself. Will she take a true leadership role and “roll back” many/most of the truly discretionary spends or will she forge ahead in her classic Mayor My Way fashion – to the detriment of everyone? She has put herself in a very difficult (almost untenable) position which, with her clinical narcissism, she is incapable of recognizing. Should be fun to watch the dance forthcoming.
Well you got your answer Ricky and we have one more kick of the can on Monday. You need to register by noon on Friday if you want to express what you have just said to her face to face. Although if you want to get your point across we would suggest the diagnosis is not part of the delegation Sincerely hope to see your name on the delegation list and you listing the unnecessary expenditures she is burdening us with.
I don’t think the City is planning on reducing the levy at all, what you likely meant was the City is reducing the increase in the proposed budget by 8.7%. That means City taxes will still be increasing by 7% (rough estimate given the data). If this is reasonably accurate, that increase to City taxes is still nearly THREE TIMES the rate of inflation and more than double the increase in pension payments that seniors will receive from the Government of Canada. In other word, the City is mandating a cut in the real incomes of seniors and other residents.
Editor’s note: How in heavens name did you come to this conclusion: “…you likely meant was the City is reducing the increase in the proposed budget by 8.7%…”
Perhaps the fault is mine. “could reduce tax levy by 8.7%”. What specifically did you mean? Please clarify.
Editor’s Note – the words were taken from your comment.
Not so sure that we are pleased publisher. Whether they get rental fees diverted back to taxpayers or not the space occupied in a city owned building that houses a public service that meets the needs of the community in general, those with disabilities and adult caregivers and parents of young children should never be rented out to a restaurant and in particular without public engagement. These washrooms need to be open 7 am 7 days a week holidays included and our council needs to ensure they are even if it means transferring monies from the $10,000 giveaway projects presently advertised outside the Library and viewed by all traffic going West on New Street.How much more prime public space is being rented out without consulting with those who own it.