Blind River treasurer Sue Dent has revised outdated budget numbers that were contained within Monday's City Council agenda and previously reported by ElliotLakeToday.
Council approved a 2 per cent tax increase at its virtual meeting Monday evening. The increase represents a $36 hike in property taxes per $100,000 of assessed value.
Dent explained that the numbers in the agenda were "out-of-date as the document had to be prepared well in advance of the meeting."
The 2021 total capital budget is $2.3 million with $1.4 million funded from the tax levy. The balance is funded from grants and reserves.
The total operating budget is $10.1 million, up by 1.85 per cent over last year, she added.
Dent submitted the revised numbers, which include:
• Administration - $1,094,416 up from $1,014,335 in 2020
• Economic Development - $166,188 up from $134,528 in 2020
• Fire - $138,410 down from $155,230 in 2020
• Garbage collection - $170,000 up from $164,100 in 2020
The Traffic Ops and Roadside Maintenance budget is $236,450 and is a decrease from 2020 pegged at $252,250. Maintenance of paved and unpaved roads are in separate budget and total $164,000 for 2021 up from $134,900 in 2020.
She also indicated the $174,740 up from $158,232 in 2020 pegged under the mayor and council budget contained in the agenda report was not just for remuneration of council.
“The total amount referred to as ‘Council Remuneration’ is not, in fact, all council remuneration. There are many other expenses that are part of this budget. Council remuneration has not actually increased for a number of years (I believe 2015). What has been increased in this overall Council budget is software costs related to eScribe (our agenda management software) to allow us to address accessibility and transparency,” Dent said.
“Council hasn’t had an increase in salary in years,” Mayor Sally Hagman said.
Overall, the town’s 2021 operating budget is increasing by 1.85 per cent over 2020 budget.