Thread by @LoveWilmot

The first meeting of the 2021 Budget Ad Hoc Committee starts at 5pm today. Get the full agenda package at calendar.wilmot.ca//townshipcalen…, then watch the meeting live at youtube.com/channel/UCcA8f…. I'll be live tweeting here 👇

This follows directly after a special meeting of council that had just one item on it 👉

https://twitter.com/LoveWilmot/status/1338597145910374408

Mayor Armstrong begins the ad hoc budget advisory committee meeting. Coun Gerber reads the land acknowledgement.

Coun Gordijk has declaration of pecuniary interest with regards to the grants programme, as she is the co-organizer of the Wilmot Terry Fox Run, which is one of the grant recipients.

Coun Hallman also has a declaration as she is part of the William Scott Festival committee, which is also a grant recipient.

Patrick Kelly (Director of Finance) is presenting a report about the Pre-Budget Consultations. (p4 of the agenda package). He acknowledges that this will be a challenging budget year.

"Unfortunately, a very small amount of feedback was received through our online platform, with a total of seven responses. This was significantly below the previous pre-budget consultation survey where 31 responses were provided, representing a good mix of settlement areas."

"It should be noted that this survey was completed during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, and many of the financial challenges being experienced throughout the community were likely incorporated within the responses received."

The recommendation to receive the report for information purposes has been carried.

The Inflationary Tax Levy Adjustment report is being discussed by Mr Kelly. The recommendation is "THAT the Ad hoc Budget Advisory Committee approve and recommend staff prepare the 2021 Municipal Budget, based in principle on an inflationary levy increase of 1.9%." (agenda p10)

"The Township continues to incur an annual decrease of 15% in OMPF funding until we reach
the pre-determined allocation of $126,200."

"The inflationary impact of 1.9% would result in $18.63 in additional taxes from the average residential property owner."

Coun Fisher says he's glad to see that the Township is sticking with the cost of living adjustment (COLA).

Coun Pfenning says it's important to note that the increase for the average household is $38.23, including the Special Dedicated Infrastructure Levy, which will be discussed next.

"THAT the Ad hoc Budget Advisory Committee approve and recommend staff prepare the 2021 Municipal Budget, based in principle on an inflationary levy increase of 1.9%, which will be monitored throughout the budget process."

Carried.

Mr Kelly has moved on to the Special Dedicated Infrastructure Levy report. Part of the recommendation is "THAT Council approve a Special Dedicated Infrastructure Levy of 2.0% to be included within the 2021 Municipal Budget." (agenda p15)

"As noted above, the implementation of a 2.0% Special Dedicated Infrastructure Levy will generate approximately $174,925 in additional infrastructure funding. This is based on the projected assessment growth of 1.15%."

Coun Pfenning says it would irresponsible not to continue to fund infrastructure through this levy, so she supports it.

Council has voted to accept the report.

Ashton Romany (Manager of Finance/Deputy Treasurer) is discussing the 2021 Fees and Charges & 2021 Water/Sanitary Rates report. (agenda p19)

A comprehensive list of charges is listed from p23 to 44.

The report notes: "The Township continues to incur an annual decrease of 15% in OMPF (Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund) funding until we reach the pre-determined allocation of $126,200."

Recommendation: "THAT the Ad Hoc Budget Advisory Committee recommends to Council the Fees and Charges report dated December 14, 2020 be adopted, and further; THAT the Water and Sanitary Rates By-Law and Fees and Charges By-Laws be updated accordingly."

Carried.

Mr Kelly is presenting the 2021 Municipal Grants Program report (p45).

It includes "THAT $53,245 in Municipal Grants be incorporated within the 2021 draft operating budget; and further...

"THAT $5,000 in the 2021 Discover Your Wilmot Funding be allocated to the Wilmot Family Resource Centre’s Indigenous Project."

The committee is voting on the report, with the exceptions of the Wilmot Terry Fox Run and William Scott Festival: Carried.

The other two items are voted on, but not by Councillors Gordijk and Hallman, due to their respective pecuniary interests: Carried.

Mr Kelly has moved on to the 2021 Level of Service Requests report (p132).

Sandy Jackson (Director of Facilities & Recreation Services) is discussing the background for the Level of Service Request – Parks & Facilities Technician.

Councillors Gerber and Pfenning both agree that this would be a beneficial hire, and the funding had already been allocated. Coun Pfenning notes that the trails have been used more during the pandemic, so appropriate staffing is needed.

Hiring a Parks & Facilities Technician will proceed, subject to budget approval.

Next: Mr Kelly discusses the ICIP – COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream. "The projected costs for the (HVAC) works outlined within this proposal are $247,500. The ICIP funding allocation was announced to be $223,968 for Wilmot Township...

"This would require approximately $23,500 of expenditures to be funded from Township resources as part of the updated 10 Year Capital Forecast and 2021 Capital Program."

The report has been received for information purposes, and staff will allocate the funding for the "installation of replacement HVAC equipment at the Wilmot Township Administration Complex."

Mayor Armstrong thanks staff for a great start to the 2021 budget process.

And with that, we're adjourned.

The second budget meeting is on Jan 11, 2021. Details: calendar.wilmot.ca//townshipcalen…