A Wallaceburg councillor feels the Chatham-Kent budget process had been moving along slowly, so he made some moves on Tuesday night to give council some more options.
“The budget process had been limping along and last night I entered successful motions to remove $1,250,000 from reserves for council,” Jeff Wesley told the Sydenham Current.
Wesley said his rationale for the motions, which drew from the building, licensing and enforcement reserve and the strategic development reserve, was to give council the option to decide the best use for this money before the 2016 budget is finalized.
“Whether reducing the infrastructure budget expense or funding one time initiatives both of which will reduce the tax rate,” Wesley said. “Personally I want the money to benefit the taxpayer in some way, as it is their money.”
Wesley said Chatham-Kent has over 90 reserves, with over $95 million in those 90 accounts.
“Some of those reserves are legally mandated but many are at the discretion of council,” Wesley said. “I have seen some reserves used as a slush fund in the past and a reserve, if not used properly or for a good reason, is nothing more than excessive over taxing of local residents and businesses. The $1,250,000 came from reserves that were not being used or used properly. So it should go back to benefit taxpayers.”
A motion on Tuesday night by West Kent Coun. Bryon Fluker to use reserves to fund the 0.67% infrastructure increase requested by staff, was shot down.
“I see the motion by Coun. Fluker being looked at again before the end of budget,” Wesley said.
He added the current 3.33% impact is not acceptable.
“We are not done yet,” he said. “I see the budget going until Thursday evening… no guess on where the percentage will end up.”
Wallaceburg Coun. Carmen McGregor entered a successful motion to add a fire inspector position to the budget.
The position comes with a $121,554 price tag, along with $6,004 for equipment.
A design study was also removed from the budget, as it has inadvertently been placed in the overall budget instead of the not-recommended list.
Deliberations are scheduled to continue on Wednesday and Thursday.
