Morris-Turnberry budget process nears end
BY SCOTT STEPHENSON
Morris-Turnberry Council received an update on the 2024 budget process from Treasurer Sean Brophy at a regular meeting on Tuesday, March 5. Brophy confirmed that the process is nearing completion and provided details about the tweaks that have been made since the budget was first presented on Jan. 9.
Brophy is projecting a draft levy increase of $169,324 or 3.55 per cent, requiring a draft rate increase of 3.88 per cent, with a projected blended rate of 3.71 per cent, but clarified the numbers are still subject to some changes and outstanding figures.
Under the building department, Brophy proposes increasing the training budget from $6,500 to $7,500, using additional funds from reserves to cover the increase.
Under the landfill budget, Brophy proposes contributing an additional $36,000 to the reserve, increasing the future landfill costs from $10,000 to $25,000 in anticipation of site development, and adding $6,500 for a heated portable washroom unit.
Councillor Sharen Zinn probed Brophy on the proposed facility upgrade. “Don’t we have a portable washroom out there now?” queried Zinn. “Yes, there’s currently one there,” replied Brophy, “but it’s not heated.”
Director of Public Works Mike Alcock chimed in to provide clarification on the hot topic. “It was brought to my attention when we had a person filling in out at the landfill that had to shovel out the porta potty before they could use it, which kind of shocked me. But when the wind blows, those doors flap and when the doors flap, they fill in with snow,” explained Alcock. “In addition to that,” he continued, “it’s always been a concern of mine that there’s no place at our landfill to wash your hands. And from a health-and-safety perspective, if there’s any place on the planet you want to wash your hands, it’s at the landfill.”
Alcock said that there are potential cost savings of buying the new unit over renting the current model at the site. He indicated the same company would service the replacement. According to Alcock, eliminating the rental fee would reduce the annual cost by around $1,440. “If we were to upgrade to a unit that was heatable, our prices would be $1,800 per year lower. We would still be paying them $55 to come out and pump the waste. We think that once a month would be fine because this unit has a flush toilet.”
Alcock offered further justification for the expense. “The other nice thing about this unit is that it has a locking door. We get people into our landfill scavenging. The sign doesn’t keep them out and neither does the gate. There’s the potential there for them to be in a bathroom that you might not want to use after.”
Mayor Jamie Heffer flushed out questions from the floor. Councillor Jamie McCallum wondered how the proposed new unit is powered. Alcock said it’s an electric, forced-air design and that operation costs might increase by 10 to 15 per cent.
“It sounds weird,” Alcock concluded, “but I think it’s something all of us would enjoy if we were out there.”
Brophy resumed leading the budget discussion, focusing next on the roads department. An additional $80,000 contribution to the bridges and culverts reserve is proposed, as well as an additional $65,000 contribution to the equipment reserve and a $110,000 contribution to the roads reserve. For 2024, reconstruction of North Street and Alice Street has been removed, bi-annual bridge inspection expense of $7,000 has been added, and the balance of the Belgrave Stormwater Master plan setup, $22,000, has been shifted from last year. Brophy plans to fund the bridge inspection and stormwater master plan from the asset management reserve.
Under administration, insurance costs are up by a whopping 19 per cent, or $30,000. The Maitland Valley Conservation levy is up by 8.4 per cent and the Saugeen Valley Conservation is raising its levy by 4.2 per cent.
Under fire, the North Huron operating levy is increasing by 15 per cent to a total of $232,295, or $31,142 more than last year. The Morris-Turnberry share of the capital levy is going up by $50,970, which Brophy intends to fund through the fire reserve. With numbers still outstanding for Huron East’s fire budget, Brophy is matching North Huron’s 15 per cent increase to the operating levy as a placeholder for Huron East until the actual numbers are received, for an estimated total of $116,235, or $15,161 over last year. Huron East fire capital expenses are estimated to come in at $166,275 for Morris-Turnberry’s share.
Brophy is earmarking $168,500 for costs associated with the Brussels Fire Hall renovation.
Projecting fire reserve contributions for the next few years, Brophy cautioned council that current levels are insufficient for anticipated upcoming capital expenditures.
Under recreation, the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre (BMGCC) has not yet been received, so Brophy used an increase of 3.8 per cent as a placeholder. Capital costs for the BMGCC are expected to be $94,800 for a brine pump, an electrical panel, pool filters and a pool deck, as well as $50,400 carried over from 2023.
Brophy recommends transferring a surplus from 2023 in the amount of $136,816.39 to the general reserve. The closing balance of the general reserve from 2023 is $345,561.
Wrapping up the discussion, Heffer said, “Sean, you’re putting your best guess into the unknowns and we were hoping you would come out as close to C.P.I. as possible. I don’t know if you’re a magician or you just keep moving numbers so much that you confuse us….” Retorting in jest, Brophy quipped, “A little bit of both.” Heffer continued, “You got us to where we were hoping you would, so I think that’s good.”
A motion to return the final budget and bylaw to the April 2 meeting of council received approval.