King passes 2007 budget Taxes up 3.38 per cent
By Bill Rea

In the end, King Township councillors were able to keep this year's tax increase down to 3.38 per cent.

Councillors approved the budget Monday night in a 6-1 vote.

But staff will have to find about $20,000 from somewhere after Councillor Linda Pabst got her colleagues to go along with needed renovations to the kitchen at Nobleton Community Hall.

"It hosts many marvellous dinners," she observed adding it's important that calls for the work be supported.

She also said there are accessibility issues involving the facility, but pointed out they don't have to be addressed until 2025.

There was a bit of opposition to this, however.

"I'm not for or against it," commented Councillor Jack Rupke, who said he lacked complete information on which to base a decision.

He was concerned there would be an obligation to bring in the accessibility issues if the kitchen was renovated, and he wanted that matter delayed until staff could report on it.

Councillor Jane Underhill argued it was a safety issue involved in this. "I think it needs to be done and should be done," she said.

Councillor Jeff Laidlaw said he understood the accessibility act requires more intensive work if there's a significant renovation, and he didn't think the proposed work on the kitchen qualified. "Most of this is maintenance and upkeep," he remarked.

Jeffery Parks, manager of budgets and accounting for the Township, said the extra $20,000 could add about 0.2 per cent to the tax increase, but added staff would look through the budget to see if the money could be found.

"I'm quite sure it can be," Mayor Margaret Black commented after the meeting.

Laidlaw was the opposition when the budget came down to a vote, as he circulated a document to his colleagues pointing to what he considered excessive budget increases over the last couple of years.

"From the public's perspective, we have roads which don't seem to get fixed, ditches which have needed to be cleared now for many years, municipal buildings where the public almost has to beg to get proper maintenance done, and in the interim the Township can spend $700,000 refacing the plaza in King City and $800,000 on the expansion at the Nobleton Arena," he stated.

Laidlaw's statement got a couple of backs up, including that of Black, who had previously lavished praise on the job staff had done, calling it "a really excellent budget." She stated it was the result of an extensive public process. "This has been well-vetted in the community," she declared.

"Tax increases are what's relevant," she declared, as she called on Laidlaw to say where he wanted cuts to be made. He replied he wanted to hear ideas from staff.

Black countered the budget on the table Monday night was the result of four meetings and about 12 staff reports, and she was puzzled that Laidlaw waited until the budget was about to be passed to pass around a document she called "rubbish."

"You ought to know better," she added, berating Laidlaw for not having suggestions on how to address his concerns.

Rupke agreed, commenting if he had a submission like Laidlaw's he would have included suggestions, too.

"Society today is demanding a lot more than nothing," he declared.

Laidlaw also praised staff for the job they did, even if he had problems with the result.

"I don't in principle agree with this budget," he remarked, adding he had said that previously.

Township CAO Scott Somerville said the budget on the table Monday was essentially the same as had been put before council at its last budget session late in March, with a few minor changes.

"We believe it's a responsible budget," he declared.

Councillor Cleve Mortelliti commented this was his first budget since taking office, and called the experience a "trial by fire."

Having worked two years in the operations department, he said he understood the needs of staff. He was glad to see there would be more help in the clerk's department, and happy to see the planning staff bolstered. He said the planners are going to be swamped with applications and need to be ready.

Mortelliti added he doesn't know everything about municipal accounting, but was willing to trust the expertise of staff.

"I hate tax increases," Councillor Bill Cober declared, but he added there's a cost to everything. "There are demands and nothing is free."