The second day of the virtual Municipality of Chatham-Kent budget deliberations took place on Thursday evening, January 28, 2021.
At the end of the second meeting, the proposed tax impact sits at 3.12%, down from the initial proposed tax increase of 3.96%.
Council debated a number of items in the draft budget on Thursday to trim the increase down to that level.
East Kent Councillor Steve Pinsonneault entered a successful motion to remove a total of $162,400 from the strategic development reserve. Pinsonneault also entered a successful motion to remove a total of $162,400 from the facility replacement reserve.
“I know we’re always moving money into strategic reserve and I think the problem with that is it becomes a slush fund,” Pinsonneault said.
“This is a tough year that we’re having.”
Pinsonneault also made a motion to remove $200,000 from the budget that was intended for the municipal affordable housing reserve.
However, the motion was defeated.
West Kent Councillor Melissa Harrigan made a motion increase the 2021 estimated investment income increase from $300,000 to $1-million.
South Kent Councillor Anthony Ceccacci entered a successful motion to reduce the line for winter control salt materials from $1250,000 to $62,500 for this year and for the next three years.
Ceccacci also made a successful motion that the amount of $75,000 for a tree replacement program be changed to a two year pilot program in the amount of $150,000 and be funded from the Emerald Ash Boer reserve. This base budget request will be considered again as part of the 2023 budget process.
Councillor Ceccacci also made a successful motion to operate the seasonal bus service as a one-year pilot project on Saturday’s and holiday weekends at a cost of $19,748 and to be funded from the transit reserve.
On the opening night of budget on Wednesday, Council approved the 2021 budget for the Chatham-Kent Police Service.
The approved police budget totaled $32.3-million budget for 2021, which represents a 1.16 per cent increase from 2020 and has a 0.23% overall tax impact.
Also on Wednesday, Councillor Harrigan entered a successful motion to remove $200,000 from the proposed increased for underground infrastructure.
Budget committee deliberations are scheduled to continue on February 2 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. live on YourTV as well as live streamed on the YourTV YouTube channel and the municipal Facebook page
Written presentations of up to five minutes are welcome on this evening.
Submissions must be made by emailing ckfps@chatham-kent.ca before 3 p.m.
More budget meetings will be held if the budget is not approved on Tuesday.
