MANITOWANING—It came down to a 3-2 vote by Assiginack mayor and council in favour of going with a two percent increase to the municipal budget, as opposed to a suggested three percent increase this year.
“I’m 100 percent against any increase,” stated Councillor Janice Bowerman at a recent council meeting. “I think expenses should be reduced and would like to see each line item on our budget reduced two percent.”
“People are to the point they can’t pay their bills,” said Councillor Bowerman. “Even $100 per household is a lot for people these days. And we are all going to get hit when MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) does its reassessments of properties. I know mine will double from the last time the reassessment was carried out.”
Council had originally looked at a 1.6 percent increase.
Councillor Dwayne Elliott had suggested council look at a three percent increase. He pointed out costs the township has no control of and is mandated to pay have increased. He noted costs such as Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board, Ontario Provincial Police, Manor, Manitoulin Planning Board and other costs have increased. He said the only other potential option to increasing the budget would be to cut programs, services and staff, which council is not in favour of.
“What happens if we have emergency situations?” asked Councillor Rob Maguire.
“This would have to come out of reserves,” said Mayor Brenda Reid.
Councillor Jennifer Hooper said that council has been through the budget line by line, and that no more money can be found or cuts made. “I would support a 1.6 percent increase but nothing further.”
“I would propose a two percent increase which would give us a little bit of a buffer,” said Councillor Maguire.
It was pointed out by Mayor Reid that the township’s budget is miniscule compared to the costs the township is having to pay for mandated costs/services.
Councillor Maguire suggested a two percent budget increase. “We need to be responsible to our taxpayers, and we don’t know what emergency costs we could be up against.”
Councillor Elliott said the township is already forecasting a three percent increase in its budget next year. And this does not include breakdowns, emergencies or issues coming up.
A motion was put forward by Councillor Maguire and seconded by Councillor Elliott for council to approve a two percent tax rate increase for 2024, and request staff to prepare the necessary bylaw. The motion was supported by Councillors Maguire, Elliott, Mayor Reid, and opposed by Councillors Hooper and Bowerman.
