The Township of Southgate is holding an information meeting next Wednesday afternoon, March 10 to discuss the 2010 budget with interested ratepayers. In an ad on Page 20 this week, the township council says the meeting is being held “for the purpose of disseminating or collecting information regarding the 2010 Budget.”
What we wouldn’t give for the Township of Wellington North to place a similar ad and hold a similar meeting to discuss the 2010 budget in this municipality. It certainly would be nice for our elected officials to disseminate some budget information instead of holding the budget deliberation cards so close to their chests as they decide how our tax dollars are going to be spent.
Apparently, in an in-camera session Monday evening following a ridiculously short open council meeting, councillors were going to go over the budget again and do some tweaking. Mayor Mike Broomhead said it had been hoped the budget would be presented at Monday’s council meeting but said it will be tabled March 8 instead.
The budget, and budget items have been mentioned in passing at the council table over the last month.
At the Feb. 8 meeting recommendations by the Works Committee that Parish Geomorphic be paid $9,500 plus GST plus expenses to provide stabilization designs for two sites on the Conestoga River and that K. Smart and Associates perform the required topographical survey at the estimated cost of $3,000 plus GST “and further that this work proceed upon approval of the 2010 budget” were accepted by council by resolution.
At that meeting Council Dan Yake, chair of the finance committee, informed council “that a budget meeting had been held this past Friday. Changes have been made to both the operational and capital budgets.”
In the fire committee meeting minutes tabled at Monday’s meeting, it was reported that “the two fire chiefs were asked to submit where they can cut $5,000 from their budgets” in preparation to the 2010 capital budget.
In the economic development committee (EDC) minutes, tabled at the Feb. 8 council meeting, it was noted that year-end expenditures were $86,500, approximately 30 per cent below budget “and the savings where primarily in salaries. Major expenditures included $20,000 in marketing expenses, $5,000 to both Chambers for the Wellington North Community, Visitors & Business Guide, $1,750 for STARS Awards sponsorship and $2,800 for the Industry Innovators Reception.” According to the minutes tabled, the EDC also prioritized 2010 objectives of total expenditures $169,652, total revenue $24,252 and net expenditures $145,400, as approved by EDC Oct. 21, still to be approved by council.”
It certainly would be nice if Wellington North, like its neighbor Southgate, held a meeting “for the purpose of disseminating or collecting information regarding the 2010 Budget”. But, then again, maybe they do know how we want our money spent. After all we acclaimed them all to their positions last election.