Chatham-Kent Council is set to meet tonight, January 30, for their third night of budget deliberations.
After two lengthy nights at the Civic Centre in Chatham this week, the current tax impact sits at 3.36%.
This figure is down from the original increase of 4.99% presented in the draft budget.
“Some difficult discussions but ones that needed to be had,” South Kent Councillor Anthony Ceccacci said on social media.
“Sitting around 3.36% with work still to be done.”
West Kent Councillor Melissa Harrigan entered a successful motion to cut the $419,906 municipal cost share for childcare and early years expansion, which faced a 20% reduction from the province.
“Some easy decisions, hard compromises, and difficult choices at budget tonight,” Harrigan tweeted.
“Achieving only 80% of our childcare expansion goals hurts to do, but we cannot reach (an) affordable budget without making challenging choices.”
Some other items dealt with in the first two days of deliberations, include:
– Chatham Councillor Marjorie Crew entered a successful motion to fund $697,000 worth of supplementary items from Chatham-Kent Fire & Emergency Services, from strategic reserves.
– Chatham Councillor Doug Sulman entered a successful motion to cut $517,000 from the capital budget.
– Sulman also successfully moved shifting the Ontario Lottery and Gaming payment from the Community Investment Fund to general operating revenue. Details on this are set to be shared on Thursday.
– Harrigan also successfully moved to defer $250,000 for the storm sewer lifecycle budget to 2021 and 2022.
– Council approved the $31.8-million Chatham-Kent Police Service budget for 2020 on Wednesday night. The police budget is up $547,135 from last year, rising by 1.75%. Chief Gary Conn said the increase comes in near the rate of inflation and will cover pay increases and contract settlements. Conn said there is no new staff additions or reduction to services included in the budget.
– Council approved adding a human resources generalist, engineering technologist, business solutions analyst and engineering manager, for a total cost of $434,206. The HR position would be covered by internal savings, while the other positions would be funded from the asset management plan fund.
– A motion by East Kent Councillor Steve Pinsonneault to cut Phase Three of the Round The River Trail from the Capital Budget was voted down by Council.
Thursday’s budget committee deliberations will run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in council chambers.
All budget committee meetings are being broadcast live on YourTV as well as live streamed on YourTV Chatham-Kent’s YouTube channel and Facebook Live feed.
Written and verbal presentations of up to five minutes are welcome each evening; people can sign up at the door.
Check the schedule posted on our 2020 budget website for updates on the timing for deputations.
Staff recommends that you contact ckfps@chatham-kent.ca in advance if you have a presentation.
Deputations on specific topics generating significant community interest will be scheduled and announced prior to the Budget Committee’s deliberations.
If anyone requires a specific accommodation, please contact the municipality 48 hours in advance at 519-360-1998.
If you are unable to attend any of the sessions, your comments can also be made by: Email to ckfps@chatham-kent.ca, mail to Budget & Performance Services, Municipality of Chatham-Kent, 315 King St. W., P.O. Box 640, Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5K8 or telephone to Budget & Performance Services at 519-360-1998.
If needed, additional sessions will be scheduled February 4 and 5.
