The Municipality of Kincardine held its fourth 2023 budget meeting on Monday.
The meeting saw council follow up on its previous January 25th meeting in which a tax rate goal of 7% was requested and staff was asked to provide a list of options on the impacts any reductions or eliminations of items would have on services.
Decides made in efforts of reduction include applying $27,000 from the Ontario Cannabis Legalization Implementation fund to maintain the School Resource Officer, one time reductions of $2,000 from the office equipment and $1,000 from office supply budgets, reduction of seasonal By-Law Enforcement Services by one position, bag tags for garbage to increase by $1, and closure of the Re-Use building at the Kincardine Waste Management Centre.
A fifth budget meeting is set for Monday, March 6th at 5pm. You can find the agenda at the link below.
The full breakdown is:
https://calendar.kincardine.ca/council
Corporate Services
- Apply $27,000 Ontario Cannabis Legalization Implementation Fund (OCLIF) to maintain the School Resource Officer position.
- A one-time reduction of $2,000 from the office equipment budget.
- A one-time reduction of $1,000 from the office supplies budget.
- The beach heritage signage request in the amount of $2,000 be cut.
- A reduction in By-Law Enforcement Services of one seasonal position for an estimated savings of $26,181.
Infrastructure and Development
- A $1.00 increase to Bag Tag charge for estimated annual increase in revenue of $160,000.
- W3 Bruce Landfill Site closure to public usage for a savings of approximately $6,000.
- Reduction of part-time contracted help at the W3 Bruce Landfill Site for an estimated savings of $20,550.
- Closure of the Re-Use Building at the Kincardine Waste Management Centre for estimated savings of $9,000 annually.
- Reduction of tree purchases and planting budget to $40,000 (a $10,000 savings).
- Elimination of the scheduled replacement of a door and tube heaters at Armow shop for a savings of $12,200.
- Removal of the Cemetery Columbarium Design for a savings of $5,000.
Community Services
- Reduction of contracted grass cutting services at a cost of $20,000.
- Elimination of one Horticultural Student position for a savings of $10,982.
- Drought-resistant and/or native plants be used in at least a quarter of municipal gardens as a pilot project.
- Deferral of Dog Park Enhancements (entrance sidewalk) to 2024 for a $5,000 savings.
- Reduction of Municipal Administration Centre’s cleaning contract for a savings of $20,000.
- Elimination of the annual Sports Hall of Fame for 2023 for a savings of $1,500.
- Elimination of the purchase of mats for the Youth Archery Program for a savings of $1,000.
- Establishment of a Sponsorship Program for facilities with estimated annual revenue of $25,000.
- Adjustment to Summer Day Camp fees to cover costs and break even with $44,212 in the 2023 budget.
Strategic Initiatives
- Elimination of the Tourism Centre landline phone for a savings of $1,500
- Elimination of the Tourism Centre facility rental on Highway 21 for a $15,000 annual savings.
- Reduction of two Summer Student Positions for an estimated savings of $24,365.
Additionally, Council directed that:
- $250,000 of the Bruce Telecom dividend be directed to Operating Expenses.
- $155,000 from the Contingency Reserve Fund be used to offset Physician Recruitment ($70,000) and Nurse Practitioner Program ($85,000) costs.
- To set aside $600,000 within the Healthcare Reserve Fund for the Kincardine Hospital Foundation for the Kincardine Hospital Expansion, resulting in a cumulative $1,200,000 commitment to this initiative.
