Funding proposal called into question

BY KIRK STARRATT

kstarratt@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

One councillor expressed concern with approving additional funding for staff positions this close to the budget deliberation process for the upcoming fiscal year, but withdrew the concern after debating the matter with his colleagues.

Kentville town council debated approving additional funding for staff positions at the Wednesday, Feb. 13 session. Finance director Debra Crowell reported at a recent council advisory committee (CAC) meeting that three new positions have been requested effective April 1, 2008. These include a part-time paymaster for the Finance Department, an Active Living Coordinator for the Recreation Department and a Community Development Coordinator for the Planning Department.

Crowell had been asked to determine how these additional costs would affect the tax rates. She presented a preliminary budget based on the inclusion. The assessment roll for 2008 is now available and indicates that assessed property values have increased by 8.5 per cent residentially and 8.1 per cent commercially. Therefore, applying last year’s tax rates, new revenue from increased assessments would be $327,300.

CAC recommended council approval of hiring a part-time paymaster, an Active Living Coordinator and a Community Development Coordinator.

Would speak against the recommendation

Councillor Dennis Kehoe, who presented the recommendations from CAC at the February council session, said he couldn’t move the recommendation because he would be speaking against it. Coucillor Larry Honey made the motion, which was seconded by councillor Bernie Cooper.

Kehoe said he supports the individual positions and town staff provided a good presentation outlining the rationale behind the recommendation. However, he questioned committing to these new expenditures so close to the budget deliberation process for the upcoming fiscal year.

“Council has invariably resisted the urge to sign up for new expenditures this close to the new fiscal year,” he said, pointing out that additional revenue would be required and there isn’t a clear picture at this point what impact this would have on revenues or tax rates.

Councillor Nola Folker-Hill said the question of how these new positions would impact tax rates was not answered definitively. Chief Administrative Officer Bill Boyd said the bottom line is that the additional property tax revenue would cover the costs.

Folker-Hill said she tends to agree with Kehoe that this sort of matter is usually addressed through budget deliberations. However, she said she understands that the situation with the paymaster is critical and the part-time position needs to be filled as soon as possible.

Boyd said the Active Living Coordinator position depends on a provincial cost-sharing grant and this is contingent on approval of the provincial budget. The Community Development Coordinator position would be a continuation of an existing position. He concurred that the part-time paymaster is needed as soon as possible.

Motion is to hire all concerned

Mayor Dave Corkum expressed concern that the Community Development Coordinator position is up as of March 31 and wondered what would happen if the town’s budget isn’t ratified until June.

Deputy Mayor Mark Pearl said councillors are misleading themselves to believe the money is already available for the positions. He said additional property tax revenue would probably have to be applied to increasing operating costs.

Kehoe said he was concerned with the potential of increased tax rates, but he withdrew the concern and retracted his objection if the only position to be filled right away would be the part-time paymaster.

Corkum pointed out that the motion before council is to hire people for all three positions by April 1 and wondered if an amendment would be needed if only a part-time paymaster was to be hired at this point.

Pearl said the motion asks only for approval, so he wasn’t sure that an amendment would be required so long as the chief administrator is aware of how council wants to proceed on the matter. Council voted in favour of the original motion without amending it.

Corkum said lightheartedly that it was the first time since 1985 that he has seen Kehoe withdraw a concern.