Committee of the Whole - November 15, 2021

Please note that all Committee of the Whole decisions are subject to Council approval. The next Council meeting is scheduled for November 22, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. If you have any questions regarding agenda items or decisions made at Committee or Council meetings, please email council@ramara.ca. 

Water and Wastewater Rate Study

Andrew Mirabella of Hemson Consulting Ltd. presented an update of the 2021-2031 Water and Wastewater Rates study that was originally presented to Committee on October 18th, 2021. The updates to the study included the following:

• Increase in sewer connections from 284 to 310;
• 10 year non-growth capital plan increased from $4.5M to $7.35M (includes spray field work in Bayshore);
• Adjustments to the amount of revenue that needs to be collected from sewer rates.
• Estimated charge per household for water rates by water system
• Benchmarking adjustments to the cost per typical household based on 200 cubic metres, and
• Updated summary of year-end reserve funds.

A report will be brought forward to a future Committee of the Whole meeting with recommendations on a rates for a 10 year period.

Draft 2022 Budget

The Acting CAO/Director of Finance presented the proposed 2022 municipal budget to Committee. Each year, staff develop a budget that funds capital projects that sustain Township services and service levels.

The proposed operating budget, the money needed for the Township to perform day-to-day operations and provide daily services, is 17.7M (1.05% increase).

The capital budget, which provides money to maintain existing physical assets like roads, buildings and equipment renewal, is proposed at $11.6M (19% increase).

The proposed 2022 budget also highlights the following:

• Assessment values are forecasted not to increase in 2022, unless its new construction;
• $4M in reserves will be utilized for purchase and construction of capital;
• Wages and Salaries will increase by 1%due to a 2%cost of living increase and reduction in job positions;
• More than $7 M will go to Road, Railway and Sidewalk projects, including Ramara Road 47,Canal Road, Paradise Blvd and Tandem Snow Plow replacement.
• $650,000 will go towards L.C.P.W. Equipment which includes the purchase of a new harvester, conveyor, trailer and additional clean flow systems. Please note that this will be financed through LCPW reserves.
• $165,000 toward Fire Station 1 Bay Addition to facilitate ease of access around ladder truck 2, house bunker gear and cleaning room.
• $375,000 towards Lift Station 4 rails and base repair, and
• $90,000 towards a new customer portal and Information Management Software, which will help with customer-service improvements. Please note that this will be proportionally funded by the Municipal Modernization Program.

A 2.86% increase for the municipal portion only is proposed, which would result in an extra $15.35 per $100,000 assessment.

Next Steps

Council provided staff with the following budget changes: reduction of Economic Development budget by $30,000, reduction in Works Capital Budget by $80,000 (removal of Longford Mills Road boat launch project) and transfer of $126,000 to rate stabilization fund. The 2022 proposed Budget will be posted for comments on November 23, 2021, for consideration at the December 13th Council meeting.

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