Snow Lake’s Town Council presented its 2016 financial plan to the community’s ratepayers at a sparsely attended (three people) meeting in council chambers at 5 pm on the evening of May 27.
Prior to the meeting getting underway, one of the attendees, Dawn Roberts, suggested to council members and the town’s CAO (chief administrative officer) that holding the event at 5 pm on a Friday afternoon may have contributed to the lack of interest.
Nevertheless, on the council side of the table, Deputy Mayor Jodi Wilson, councillors Penny and Peter Roberts, Richard Jones, Robin Turnbull and CAO Jordan Willner were in attendance – Mayor Kim Stephen and Councillor Brenda Forsyth were not; they were south attending Centralia 2016 at the World Trade Centre Winnipeg.
Willner briskly overviewed the plan using Powerpoint to tell the budgetary story. He explained that the Citizen Satisfaction and Budget Priorities Survey that ran till the end of last year helped craft the document and noted that 2016 was a reassessment year for the province.
As a result, Snow Lake’s taxable assessment has increased from $38 million in 2015 to $42 million this year. A total of 615 properties in the community were impacted by the reassessment. Of those, 285 saw their assessment increase, while 330 saw a reduction.
Willner noted that the assessment increases were greater than the reductions and this is reflected by higher overall taxes and an increase in the general municipal mill rate, from 29.099 in 2015 to 30.01 for fiscal 2016.
There was nothing to report on the mining payment in lieu front, as council is still embroiled in negotiations with Hudbay.
The CAO then broke down the mill rate, which all totalled is 56.98 mills. Besides the 30.01 mills (53 per cent) allotted to general municipal, 24 mills (42 per cent) will go to education, with 2.97 mills (5 per cent) used to service debenture debt.
Total budgeted revenue for the year is $2,661,120.42, an increase of %153,914.04 from fiscal 2015.
Wrapping up and opening the floor to questions, Dawn Roberts was the first to query council.
She had several questions, and began by asking why revenue for recycling had increased from a budgeted $4,000 in 2015 to an actual of $12,327.71.
Willner replied that when he arrived in Snow Lake there was an overabundance of tires at the dump – seven years’ worth, councillor Peter Roberts confirmed. The overage was realized by recouping the levy on these after sale and removal from the dump.
Dawn Roberts’ second question concerned an increased budgetary expenditure for legal and professional services from an actual of $15,304.53 in 2015 to a budgeted $50,025.00 for 2016.
Willner said this was to cover several legal disputes slated for October 2016 and for contracting Firelight Group to provide research, analysis, and technical support during payment in lieu negotiations with Hudbay.
Dawn Roberts also questioned why the fire services budget will increase by over $64,000 from last year’s actual.
Willner gave a breakdown of equipment purchases contributing to the increase and agreed with Roberts that incremental purchasing for the department would be a far better way of upgrading their outerwear and equipment.
Roberts then had some questions in respect to the money spent on equipment and wages, which was from a mechanic hired last year; operating the garbage service, which apparently, after the initial capital outlay for a truck and garbage cans, only amounts to $40,000 to operate per year; and an increase in general land assembly, which came from $61,000 used to purchase land out at the corner of #395 and #392, MultiCrete.
With that, Roberts concluded her queries.
Next, I asked how negotiations were proceeding with Hudbay with the payment in lieu.
Willner replied that council anticipates a successful conclusion that will benefit both sides. He also confirmed that the Firelight Group’s help during the negotiations came at a cost of $17,000.
Cathy Stabback next had a couple of queries for the council. She asked if money from the road maintenance function of the budget could be put towards beautifying the old Northern Store lot prior to the community’s 70th anniversary.
Willner explained the lot was privately owned, and as such the town couldn’t invest in beautifying it. He noted that he has been in contact with Northern about the lot and they were to get back to him in the spring with their plans.
Stabback had two final questions. The first, about grants in lieu of taxes for housing in the document, was explained as being for housing owned by the Manitoba Government (Manitoba Housing Unit). The other about a new hydro line to the airport that showed up in the five-year plan; she asked if part of the costs for this would be recouped through user fees.
Willner said that there was talk of this.
As there were no other questions, council passed the financial plan unanimously and closed the meeting at 5:36 pm.
My Take on Snow Lake is published Fridays.
