Frontenac County budget set to rise by 2.55%

Jeff Green | Nov 18, 2015

Sitting as a Committee of the Whole, Frontenac County Council had their last look at the 2016 budget on November 12, and are set to approve the document at a meeting this week.

The budget was developed with a target for operational costs of a 1.2% increase, based on the annualized Consumer Price Index increase as of August. Although costs were higher, a reserve fund was used to get to that number. On top of that, Council approved two extra expenditures of $30,000, one for a study and one for an allocation to the sustainability reserve fund, bringing the increase up to 1.9%.

Then, another $56,000 (0.65%) was put aside for replacement costs for county-owned buildings, bringing the total increase to 2.55%.

The only outstanding item is a potential donation to Pine Meadow Nursing Home, which will be decided before the budget is finalized (see Pine Meadow on page 1).

If the County does decide to support Pine Meadow, and does so over five years ($21,150 per year) it would increase the overall budget by 0.25%, bringing the overall increase to 2.8%.

Before sending the budget to this week's meeting for approval, South Frontenac Mayor Ron Vandewal asked, “Can I make my comments now or should I make them later?”

“You might as well make them now,” said Deputy Warden Frances Smith, who was chairing the meeting.

“I will not support the budget. I did not support the Economic Development strategy or the cost. I am not in favour of 2.5%. I will be voting no to this,” said Vandewal.

“Do you have a number that you could support?” asked Smith.

“I do not want to go over 2%,” Vandewal replied.

“Should we bring this back on the 18th of November or do you want to bring it back in December?” Smith then asked Vandewal.

“I won't be here next week, so December is best for me,” said Vandewal.

“I might not be here on December 16,” said Warden Dennis Doyle.

A motion to consider the budget bylaw on November 18 was approved. In a recorded vote, only Ron Vandewal voted against the motion.