NORTHEAST TOWN—Council for the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands passed its 2024 budget at a meeting held late last month and with it, an increase to the levy of 6.95 percent for a total levy of $5,837,080. (The levy is the amount of money needed to be brought into the municipality to fulfill its daily operations.)
With the increase to the levy comes an increase to the tax rates of the four wards: Ward 1 (McGregor Bay/Bay of Islands) will see an increase of 2.26 percent ($17.12 per $100,000 of assessment); Ward 2 (Little Current), 5.62 percent ($77.86 per $100,000 of assessment); Wards 3 and 4 (Howland), 5.93 percent ($74.89 per $100,000 of assessment).
Almost half of the overall budget for the Northeast Town, $8,936,009, is comprised of “uncontrollable costs.” These include $2,107,895 in wages; $1,209,644 to the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board (which includes paramedic services); $125,000 to Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD); $94,486 to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation; $146,836 to the Manitoulin Centennial Manor; and $719,557 for Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) services.
Some of the reasons for the increase to the levy include: an increase to the equipment repair and maintenance budget of $23,200; a decrease is Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund monies by $32,800; an increase to wages and salaries by $134,621; an increase to insurance by $29,106; an increase in road materials of $126,500 and an increase to the aforementioned uncontrollable costs by $35,023.
There are several capital expenditures in the 2024 budget. The municipal office will receive a new door and veranda on the second floor and have its bricks repointed with a $40,000 budget at a net cost to the town.
Under roads, the Green Bush is slated to have 3.2 kilometres of double surface treatment at a cost of $190,000 ($179,502 to come from the gas tax, the remainder from the gas tax reserve) and two kilometres of hard surfacing on Red Lodge Road (which is shared with Assiginack) ($60,000 from the gas tax reserve, $60,000 from Assiginack).
Twenty-eight thousand dollars has been slated for bridge and culvert inspections at a net cost to the town with $140,000 for a new sidewalk along Park Street (gas tax reserve), $350,000 for a new snowplow (working capital reserve), $22,000 for an upgrade to the Sheguiandah boardwalk (net cost to town); and $25,000 for a new play structure at Low Island for children ages 2 to 4 (net cost to town).
Under ‘environmental services,’ the municipality has budgeted for a new garbage compactor at $560,000 (working capital reserve) while under ‘recreational and cultural services’ a new 30’ x 40’ community services garage estimated at $120,000 (to be covered by a grant) and main recreation centre hall ceiling improvements (pending funding) is in the works at $20,000.
The municipality is also looking to purchase a new lawn mower at $35,000 and washrooms at McLean’s Mountain looking at $90,000 (pending funding).
The Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah will see a $12,700 window upgrade (net cost to town) while the marine facilities will gain a new $30,000 utility vehicle ($15,000 from the Spider Bay Marina reserve, $15,000 from the waterfront reserve).
During the public portion of the meeting, Little Current resident Zak Nicholls raised concerns with several of the uncontrollable costs, namely the OPP and PHSD. Mr. Nicholls called on the municipality to challenge the PHSD’s increase.
The mayor thanked Mr. Nicholls for his input.
Councillor Bill Koehler called for a recorded vote on the 2024 budget with all but Councillor Koehler voting in favour. The motion to pass the budget was carried.
