Dollar amounts must cover 2017, but actually also project the next 4 years.
Budget includes which roads are due to be reconstructed and in which year
By MARK SCHADENBERG
City Council in Woodstock is very smart.
Those elected to council locally are good people who understand how to
consider a budget, but the process for many many years in Woodstock for the
capital budget has been to consider a rolling 4-year system of needs and wants.
The 2017 capital budget for Woodstock will likely hover around $22
million. A Woodstock Sentinel-Review story posted in the final link below notes
that the dollar figures may be lower than 2016 because of the costs associated
with the addition at the police station.
As a Realtor, the next best comparison I can make is a reserve fund
study at a condo corporation as they plan on replacing the roof shingles (for
example) on townhouses in 2019 so it’s noted on a large chart and condo fees
are saved for that project.
It’s all about concentrating on today, but paying very close attention
to the future.
Mayor Trevor Birtch greeting on City website
Municipal taxes are most certainly not a condo fee, but a wise
investment in the present (wages and facility and road maintenance) and future
(when does the arena need a new compressor – 2017 -- and in what year should
the city attempt to build a bridge to connect Burgess Farm Park to Standard
Tube Park as the Thames River divides both sides).
The agenda for City Council on Thursday, Dec 15 included a depiction of
the entire budget for 2016. Property taxes likely always go up as there is also
the county portion and school board assessment which must be considered, but
the Woodstock horseshoe has quite a list of on-the-horizon concrete and
machinery items to consider.
Another analogy can be a matter of logic. For example, if your
neighbourhood tennis court is not on the 4-year rollout of capital plans, you
better start lobbying now as that tennis court will not happen until 2021.
I’m a long-time member of the Recreation Advisory Committee for the
City, so I’m always tracking what Chief Administrative Officer David Creery and
Treasurer & Director of Administrative Services Patrice Hilderley have up
their sleeves. Not to place too much
onus and responsibility on the Creery and Hilderley team, as one must certainly
read proposals and input and requests from the various departments as they truly
do carry the weight and measures for dollars required, such as:
Engineering: Harold DeHaan
Parks & Recreation: Brian Connors
Museum & Art Gallery: Karen Houston
Library: Bruce Gorman
Fire Department: Scott Tegler
Police Department: Bill Renton
Several projects planned for Community Complex in next 2 years.
This year. the 20-year-old twin-pad facility received a new elevator.
If you don’t believe a city council member earns their remuneration, I
must point out that the council agenda for Dec. 15 is 425 pages, but you can
consider 278 - 312 as the important pages where the budget timeline is noted.
The budget also notes many 2016 expenditures, such as the massive
renovation at the Southside Aquatic Centre and new roof at the library, as it
assists in depicting the true trends and visualizing what has occurred this
year to create the 2016 number and the projections in future years.
Like a drone with a camera attached, here’s an overview at some of the
items to be discussed for the 2017 budget and beyond. I have included price
tags on some items, but I’m just a blog writer and not a human abacus.
2017:
Fibre Optic link to Parkinson Road fire station, $121,000
Huge project is the replacement of refrigeration units at complex which will close both ice surfaces for the summer of 2018, which in-turn certainly effects revenue with no summer ice rentals possible
Replace a forklift for community complex, $32,000.
Purchase new ice resurfacer, $90,000. (This item has already moved
forwarded due to its need and ordering time)
New boards and concrete floor for Civic Centre Arena.
Replace two garbage trucks, $423,000
New street lights at north side of Devonshire from Cardinal to northeast rec complex (This project should have been done 5 years ago as it’s very dark at night.)
New road from Sally Creek subdivision to Hartley Farm at County Road 11.
Street reconstructions at Catharine, Grant, Beale, Brock, Berwick,
Briarhill, Elora, Shenstone and Douglas. (The budget notes the exact
cross-streets involved as the Beale project is simply Grant to Ingersoll Ave)
Briarhill & Elora neighbourhoods
New street / neighbourhood between Sally Creek and County Road 11
New roof for museum.
New vehicle for fire prevention officer, $35,000
Improved lighting to ball diamonds at Brompton and Southside parks.
Playground equipment installation at brand new park at Halifax and
Springbank, $125,000, and then $150,000 in 2018 as walkways and other features
are added.
Note: City also plans to spend $70,000 each year on tree planting in
new subdivisions.
2018:
Replace a plow truck, $240,000
Street reconstructions at Earlscourt, Fifth, Grosvenor, Duke, Givins,
Leinster, Hatch, King and Ingersoll Avenue
New roof at market centre theatre building.
New roof at market centre theatre building.
New roof at community complex (Facility opened -- by the way -- in
1996)
Heating and cooling unit replacements at community complex – original
dressing rooms, ice pad and foyer.
2019:
Purchase a stump grinder, $60,000
Street reconstructions at Bernard, Dent, Bay, Athlone, Drew, Park Row,
and this will be fun as Dundas Street will be rebuilt from Vansittart to
Oxford.
2020:
Replace asphalt roller, $45,000
New truck washing building for public works dept.
A Nova city bus. There was one on the 2016 budget also, and in other
years upcoming as well.
WATCHING DIMES & NICKELS
After the budget is passed, the true savings are found when a high price tag item arrives under budget through the formal tender process.
After the budget is passed, the true savings are found when a high price tag item arrives under budget through the formal tender process.
If a certain approved project does not occur or is not completed in
2017 for whatever reason, that approved amount will usually just slide into the
next calendar year
www.cometothecrossroads.com
LINKS:
Nov 24 Story:
Full-time Realtor
I Know The Importance Of Informing Clients
About The News Of Woodstock & Area
Mark Schadenberg, sales rep
Royal LePage Triland Realty Brokerage
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
Call me anytime: (519) 537-1553
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