Dec. 10 council briefs
NOTL town council held its final regular meeting of 2024 on Dec. 10 and discussed spending guidelines for town departments as the municipality has yet to finalize next year’s budget and a new fee for special event permit fees.
Budget motion
In lieu of approving a final municipal budget for 2025, council approved the ability for all town departments to take on costs of up to 35 per cent of last year’s expenditure budgets to continue funding essential services — as the town works to put together a final budget it can approve in the new year.
In September, council approved a timeline for working on the 2025 capital and operating budgets, aiming to finalize them on Dec. 10.
Budget meetings commenced Nov. 20 with the following meetings scheduled on Nov. 28 and Dec. 5. The final meeting was deferred into January by a staff request.
Without a final decision on complete operating costs and will continue early in the new year.
This leaves the total operating budget planned for next year, as well as how much the property tax levy will increase for NOTL residents, undecided.
On Nov. 20, the budget committee was looking at a proposed operating budget of around $18.4 million and a 14.4 per cent property tax increase.
Coun. Erwin Wiens questioned whether or not this situation would affect town staff’s ability to secure the best price for road construction and asphalt resurfacing needs.
“Are we able to get in on those (tenders) or does this not apply to that?” he questioned, noting that tendering in January usually results in the best price.
“The cost will go up considerably if we don’t do it early,” he warned.
Council directed staff to investigate and report back.
Area-specific development charges
Council directed staff to prepare a 2025 background study to consider an area-specific development charge in Glendale to address anticipated costs related to the area’s growth.
These include stormwater, wastewater and infrastructure costs. This is in addition to a proposed regular development charge study set for 2025.
“With growth (in Glendale) we’re going to need more community services and ways to fund these community services,” Coun. Sandra O’Connor said.
During last week’s committee of the whole meeting, councillors delayed approval of the Glendale secondary plan until January.
Special event permit fee is coming
As of Jan. 1, a $100 fee will be attached to the special event permit application process.
The item was brought forward by Coun. Maria Mavridis, who stated her research — as well as information gathered by town staff — shows other municipalities in Niagara as well as those as far off as Barrie charge between $200 and $500 for such permits.
“We are in budget mode and I was looking at ways to create revenue streams that other municipalities use that we don’t have,” she said.
Mavridis added that $100 is a cost she is happy with now but is also willing to discuss an increase down the road.
“Some others have said it should be higher,” she said.
“I am open to that. I just want to ensure that we are covering the staff time that is put into the work being done.”
Currently, there is no fee attached to such applications.
The $100 fee will remain in effect until a comprehensive review of the special events program is complete in the third fiscal quarter (July to August) of 2025.
Wiens, who, as an organizer of this week’s tractor parade in Virgil, needed a permit from the region, said he found its process of charging varying rates for private events versus charitable events a good way to go.
He offered that as a suggestion for the upcoming review.
Coun. Wendy Cheropita also agreed with the fee and asked for a comprehensive review of the time and effort town staff take to complete the process to determine the best rate.
She added that the $100 might be a good place to start but wanted to know more.
“I would like to understand, when we see that report, what is involved. It is an onerous process … and if it can be streamlined at all, that would be great too.”
The next council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 28 at 6 p.m.
