Chief Administrative Officer, S. Chambers, provided opening remarks regarding the 2023 Base Operating Budget.
Director of Corporate Services/Treasurer P. Kelly gave a high-level overview of Report COR-2023-11. Further, Director Kelly reviewed and explained the revenues and expenditures as set out in the 2023 Draft Operating Budget Summary.
Committee asked and received answers on the following topics:
- reasons for shortfall in transfer to infrastructure reserve funds
- long term strategy regarding the dedicated infrastructure levy and how this approach will rebuild reserve funds
- when peer municipalities might have introduced their dedicated infrastructure levy fund and when Wilmot can expect to see its fund grow
- reasons for Wilmot's lower tax discretionary reserves in comparison to peer municipalities, and how past practices have affected the same
- how Bill 23 may have affected assessment growth in Wilmot and consequently, the budget
CAO Chambers commented on the benefits of taking a strategic, long-term approach; and to prioritizing spending to realize revenue from growth.
Committee further asked and received answers on the following topics:
- expected assessment growth as revenue for the Township and its reliance upon the same to balance the operating budget
- what other revenues streams can be relied on to alleviate levy increases
- impact of the percentage levy number on different sized neighbouring municipalities
- how Aggregate Resource Fees are set and whether Council may have a say in this fee amount
- how costs are shared between user-pay divisions and levy
- what services are provided to the Township out of the regional component of Wilmot property tax levy
Committee directed Staff to conduct a staffing analysis covering the period 2018 to 2023 and provide a report to Council indicating where resources have been spent over that period of time, as well as future Human Resources requirements.
Committee further asked and received answers on the following topics:
- when the Township will see impacts of its asset management planning
- percentage of recreation facility subsidies and associated cost recovery associated
- timeline that Development Charges are payable to the Township, in the process of new developments
- how zoning affects the types of businesses which are coming into employment lands