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Page 12, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, February 17, 1993 Current service levels to be maintained By Mike Kowalski Whitby residents will not have to pay more for local municipal services this year. As expected, Whitby council last week approved a 1993 budget which contained no in- crease in the Town's portion of the municipal preperty tax bill. Council gave its blessing to a $26.1-million current or operat- ing budget and a $5.3-million capital budget. As a result, there will be no local tax increase for the first time in more than a decade. Last year, the combined operating and capital budget of $38.5 million represented an average tax increase of 2.5 per cent across the municipality. In 1993, the average urban propert owner in Whitb will psy $601 in taxes to the Town, while rural residents will pay $521. But whether Whitby residents can escape without any increased property taxes this year remains to be seen. Durham Re'on and the two school boards have yet to strike their 1993 budgets. In recommending approval of the overall $31.5-million budget, councillor Dennis Fox said exist- ing service levels will be main- tamned. A key factor in achieving this goal was a 3.76 per cent increase in assessment, said budget chair- man Fox. But Whitby's growth rate is not expected tobe as high this year he said. '«Tis factor will complicate Fire hall a prio FROM PAGE 1 "Generally sp eaking the seniors woul dlike to stay where they are," said Morrow. " m not saying that's the con- sensus but quite a few have expressed that desire," he said. Ceuncil's selection of Bradley Park was a controversial one which ran into opposition from both area residents and some seniors. The feeling among Bradley proponents was that the site is in a more central location of the municipality. Morrow said consulting firm EHE Inc., which prepared the original study recommending a new facility, will undertake the site selection study. Meanwhile, Whitby's need for another arena will remain just that -- a need -- in the forseeable future. Neither the current or capital budget provide for an arena to compliment Iroquois Park and the Luther Vipond Memorial Arena in Brooklin. During the public question period prior to council's budget deliberations, Anderson St. resi- dent Jim Priest asked about in- volving private enterprise in building anew arena. Councillor Don Mitchell, parks and recreation chairman, said discussions have been held along those lines. But all proposals made to the Town to date would end up costing the municipality more than simply constructmng an arena itself, said Mitchell. "In addition te the $3 million building costs, it would cost $125,000 annually te operate it," he said. Mitchell said he personally faveurs including an arena in Whitby's next five-year capital forecast, "but net this year or next." "Before we see another arena there bas to be a seniors' centre they'e been waiting tee long,' sai councillor John Dolstra te applause from seniors in the audience. future budgets and council's abi- lity to repeat this year's no tax rate increase during 1994," Fox warned. The budget did not differ to any great degree from last year's and there are no major facilities planned for construction in 1993, said Fox. However, $200,000 has been allocated for design drawings and tender specifications of the proposed fire department head- quarters on Taunton Rd. This "much needed facility" will be given priority among other major projects and con- struction is slate to start early next year, said Fox. Noting that 1993's capital spending program is significantly less than last year's $1 iinillion, Fox said Whitby will not have to issue debentures to pay this year's bill. Projects contained in the capi- tal budget will be financed by current resources such as dip- ping into the Town's various reserve funds, said Fox. These reserves will be tapped for approximately $3.1 million of the $5.3 million capital budget. Fox noted that last year's capi- tal budget provided for a new public works operations centre on Taunton Rd. Approximately $4.1 million in debentures were issued by the 1993 Whitby budget HIGHLIGHTS Re air work to a section of Dun as St. is the most e ensive project contained in itby's 1993 budget. Dundas between Garden and Brock streets will be resurfaced and the storm sewers replaced. The work is projected to cost $610,000. Other major expenditures in the budget include: * a $1.6 million grant to the Whitby Public Library Board; * $591,000 for the replacement of five public works department vehicles; * $24,000 for the installation of high efficiency fluorescent light- ini in the municipal building; $62,500 for expansion of the Groveside Cemetery building; * $61,000 for three planning studies which will examine future development on Dundas St. E., shopping centres and pla- zas, and Whitby's greenbelt areas; * *350,000 te reconstruct Harold St. from Garrard Rd. to Corbett Creek; * $282,000 to reconstruct Athol St. from Dunlop St. to Ontario St..; *' $231,000 to reconstruct Kent St. from Dundas St. to Mary St.; * $257,000 to reconstruct Lock- ridge St. to East Lynde Creek; * $310,000 for erosion control on Lynde Creek in the area of Rossland Rd. and the Cochrane St. bridge; * $100,000 for erosion control on Wellington St.: * $240,000 te purchase a new bus for Whitby Transit; * $141,000 for completion of the boat launch at the Whitby marina; * $50,000 for installation of a spray pad at Kinsmen Park, plus $40 000 te remove the outdoor pool; * $45 000 for repairs te the Peel Parý lacrosse box; * $20,000 for foundation repairs te the Brooklin Con- munity Centre; * $14,500 for installation of a fire alaram system at Luther Viond Memorial Arena; $110,000 te replace ice resur- facing ipment at both Iro- quois Park and Luther Vipond arenas. Grants to organizations Almost $90,000 in grants will be given to communit erganiza- tions operating in Whitby this year. Ten groups will share $89,455 as stipulated in the 1993 budget approved by Town council Iast week. Whitby Arts Inc. will receive the largest grant, $65,000. Other groups receiving grants include: * Whitby Brass Band, $11,800; * Whitby Junior Chamber of Commerce, $5,000; * City of Oshawa Marine Res- cue Association (COMRA), $4000; Ajax-Pickering and Whitby Association for Community Liv- ing, $3,000; Burns Presbyterian Church Cemetery Board,$300; * Broeklin Women's Institute, $200; * Durham West 4-H Associa- tion, $100; * Ontario County Farm Safety Association, $30; * Durham West, Rama & Mara Soil and Crop Improvement Association, $25. Budget process under fire By Mike Kowalski Despite resulting in no tax increase, Whitby's budget ro- cess came under fire last week. Town council received harsh criticism from some of the 30 pople who attended Wednes- ays meeting to approve the 1993 budget (see separate story). Critics claimed the budget was already a foregone conclusion and there was no opportunity for 'meaningful' public input. Councillors responded that Whitby's budget deliberations the last two years have been more open than any time in the past. Prior to council's examination of the budget, spectators were permitted to ask questions about the combined $3 .5-million cur- rent and capital budgets. However, more than one per- son complained that a 10-page booklet of budget statistics was not sufficient to allow "intelli- gent" questions to be asked of council. Former councillor Gerry Emm said co ies of the actual budget should ave been provided tot e public as was the case last year. That way, ratepayers would know exactly where money is being spent, said Emm. When councillor Dennis Fox, budget chairman, replied that the fuli budget is available for public viewing after it's appro- ved, Emm said that was not enough. He said council had already determined the budget's contents and without the actual docu- ment, the public could not ques- tion specific items. "We have no breakdown on where the cuts are being made," said Emm. "Will we hear that tonight or have you already decided that?" he asked. "Obviously discussions took Elace before or we wouldn't be ere tonight," answered Fox. "Was it done behind closed doors?"Emm asked. "Aw Gerry, you know better than diat," said Fox. "Was it done behind closed doors?" Emm persisted. "Absolutely,» responded Fox, who then attempted to deflect Emm's comments back at him. "Gerry, when you were on council for 19 years you never had these kind of meetings," said Fox. "When you were finance chair- man you had (tax) increases of eight, nine per cent." Fallingbrook St. resident Guy Ouellette then picked up on Emm's theme. "How can we ask specific ques- tions if we don't have the infor- mation?"Ouellette asked. Fox replied that anyone can attend council and committee meetin to find out how their tax dollars are spent. "Then you're saying I should attend every meeting durinq the year in order to as intelligent questions,"said Ouellette. Referring te last year's budget meeting, Quellette asked if coun- cil "tok to heart," any sugges- tions made by the public. "Obviously we did or we wouldn't be coming in with zero per cent," said Fox. "(Then) how could we get a decrease in taxes?" Oue lette asked. "I don't know, I guess we could cut service or fire staff," answered Fox. Ouellette, a member of the Whitby chapter of the Ontario Taxpayers Coalition, kept up his SEE PAGE 31 AAWKA~A'.'iAi%.'..4 A~A .i ~ .~ 6*6 ~ .*&, e...'o ~i q ~ 4#.~.O f,~.4 ~ Town to hel pay the cost of the $6.7-million uilding. Fox said residents expressed concern at the time that the debenture debt would increase taxes. "I am pleased to confirm that the first annual debt ent is contained in the 1993 budget without an increase in the rate o taxation,"he said. Looking ahead, Fox said the Ontario government's recent decision to roll back uncondi- tional grants to municipalities to 1992 levels will impact on the 1994 budget. Almost $6.5 million will go towards protection of persons and property which includes the cost of the Whitby fire depart- ment. General government will account for $5.1 million while parks and recreation will spend. 3.6 million. The remainder will go mis- cellaneous grants, $1.7 million; lannin and development, 731,07 and social services, $28,950. While the government's plan to have munici alities absorb the full cost o some previously shared or. provincially-funde programs, will apply greater ressure on the local mill rate, e added. As is traditionally the case, the public works department accounts for the major share of the $26.1-million current bud t. Slightly more than $8 mi ion has bn set aside for public works this year.