ELORA - According to the statements they made on Feb. 15, councillors in Centre Wellington were very unhappy when they voted for a budget with a spending increase of $9.62%.

That means collecting $6.-5 million in property taxes this year. Much of the rest of the money comes from taxpayers in the form of user fees for such things as sewer and water charges.

It also means township ratepayers will pay an extra $54 for each $196,000 in assessment. Since the township's share of the tax bill is 22.4% of the total tax bill, it means an overall increase of $2.16 per cent over last year. The county budget, which takes up 54.8% of the total tax bill, was to be debated in Guelph this Thursday.

When councillors commented on the budget, there was a sense of frustration from many of them.

"The options were just not there," said councillor Fred Morris, who added, "We've approved it with the taste of bitterness in our mouths."

Councillor Gord Feniak said, "I don't like this one little bit … 9.62% is an ugly number."

Councillor Jean Innes said, "We agonized long and hard. It's a horribly high number."

She blamed the increase in provincial downloading, and said that means councillors at the local municipal level must "keep digging into our pockets."

Councillor Steve Ennis said there are places that explain the increases, such as 2% for the new community centre in Fergus, another 2% for the new medical building that will house new community doctors in Fergus, and, from a few meetings ago, council reducing its development charges on industrial growth to 25% so the township can attract more business.

Ennis concluded, "We have a revenue problem," and added all municipalities "are going to have to look for some new way to increase their tax base."

He also pointed out the political efforts of 1998 that were then-claimed to bring financial stability to local government have been a failure.

"It's obvious that amalgamation didn't save money," he said, noting that five municipalities with aging infrastructure have created major problems. "Maybe the urban municipalities could have managed," he mused.

Councillor Ron Hallman said his taxes have doubled since he moved into his new home ten years ago, and he understands the plight of seniors on fixed incomes.

"I'm not happy with a 9.62% increase. I know we did the best job we could do."

He added the township should be eligible for the gas tax that the provincial government has promised to larger cities.

Councillor Walt Visser, though, kept his voting record intact. For the fourth consecutive year since he has been on council, including the last two as finance committee chairman, he has voted against the township's budget.

He said council needs to slash its operating budget (staff costs) and start looking after its infrastructure, the capital costs.

First, he noted what the township has already lost - because $10-million in capital projects will again not be completed. He said the township is continuing to turn paved roads into gravel roads.

He also pointed out that roughly the same amount of cash should have been spent last year, but the township managed only $800,000, and, this year, that is reduced to $700,000.

Visser said the increase is only in operating costs.

He noted that one extra bridge will be built this year, and two others are waiting for a grant from the federal and provincial governments. The nearly $3-million in the Gerrie Road and 8th Line bridges will be done only if that grant is allotted.

"We should all be embarrassed we have to go to the federal and provincial government and ask them to pay for our bridges," he said. “In the long run, you're going backwards. We're supposed to be spending $11-million per year and we're spending $700,000 … We are in a desperate situation, and we should be aware of that."

The numbers

Council plans to spend $34.13-million dollars in 2005.

Of that, the operating budget will take $18.39-million, and capital costs are $16.54-million. To make up the difference, council moved $800,000 from its operating reserve fund. Council expects to release more budget figures before the end of February. The list of projects did not include any specific costs in the council agenda.

The projects for this year include:

- community complex;

- medical centre offices;

- on-line booking of recreation facilities and programs;

- improvements to the Fergus Grand Theatre;

- replacing to bridges (contingent on federal and provincial grants, which, if paid, will have no effect on the budget because the township's share will come from its slots facility profits);

- hiring an economic development officer;

- funding the reduction in the development charges;

- fixing a water main in south-east Elora;

- building a biosolids storage facility at the Elora sewage treatment plant;

- starting the environmental assessment process to expand the Elora sewage treatment plant;

- connecting the Fergus and Elora water systems as part of the Wellington Terrace expansion in Aboyne;

- construction of an iron removal facility to improve water quality in north-east Fergus;

- two new wells; and

- maintaining the township's existing levels of service.

That last one includes all roads cleared within five hours following a snow storm; sidewalk snow removal and sanding and salting; leaf collection; and fire services.