‘I will not support’: Windsor councillors eye ways to bring budget increase below 5%
Windsor city council will debate the 2023 budget on Monday, and ratepayers are looking at a much higher than normal property tax increase, but not if some councillors get their way.
“The exercise is going to be extra challenging this year,” said Ward 6 Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac, a self-professed fiscal conservative around the council table who for eight consecutive years voted in favour of zero increase budgets.
But even she will tell you this year is different.
That’s because inflation is at a level unseen in 40 years and is driving up the cost of doing business — even at city hall.
“This is not a discussion of spenders versus savers,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. “I'm sure everyone is trying to do their best to keep the lid on a budget during a time of 40 year high inflation to try to manage our way through this budget in the most prudent way possible.”
When first tabled, the city proposed a budget increase of 5.23 per cent.
A committee of council met over four days last month, whittling that number down to 4.59 per cent through administrative cuts. But according to new Ward 4 Coun. Mark McKenzie, a trio of councillors were miffed when they came to the meeting with ideas for further reductions, only to have the motion to hear those ideas voted down.
Then, the city was dealt another blow when some unexpected add-ons, including a larger than anticipated land ambulance rate and lower stipend through the provincial gas tax brought that magic back above 5 per cent.
And now, administration has proposed a new tax, adding a quarter of a per cent to fund the new residential roads asset management plan, bringing the property tax increase to 5.27 per cent going into Monday’s budget debate.
“We have an obligation to have an asset management plan,” said Mayor Drew Dilkens, who is defending the additional levy to ensure residential roads are prioritized.
Dilkens indicates every councillor who came through his door over the past few months said it’s something residents are demanding.
“This keeps us ahead of the game to make sure we’re doing the work that’s required in the community,” said Dilkens.
But some of council’s newest members are ready to sharpen their pencils to bring that number down further.
Mark McKenzie was prepared to table different ways to bring the tax rate down during the special budget committee meetings. Even though his motion was defeated at that time, he will have his ideas ready to roll on Monday.
“I don't like 4.5 per cent,” he said. “I'd love to see it, you know, close to 2.5 per cent, or three, ideally. But then again, I don't want to cut services either.”
Ward 1 Coun. Fred Francis has been consistent over the past eight years he’s served on council, with a mantra of hold the line or bust.
“My concern is that we're on a runaway freight train of tax increases, year-after-year-after-year moving forward, and that's what I'm trying to avoid,” he said.
Francis notes the city is working with a $2.5 million surplus from last year and this budget has $22 million in new spending proposed.
He sent an email to councillors this past Monday with ideas to trim the budget, including suspending funding for the asset management plan, slashing about a million dollars in new proposed hires and cutting transit increases in half from $900,000 to $475,000. He says these cuts alone could save $6.5 million.
“In a year where people are telling us they're struggling with all these household expenses, why wouldn't we eliminate a tax we have full control over?” he asked.
Francis is also suggesting council re-prioritize the 10-year, $1.7 billion capital budget, deferring the civic esplanade makeover and festival plaza projects and re-directing that money to roads and sewers so they don’t need to be funded by the asset management plan.
“I don't think we should be patting ourselves on the back and telling people, ‘oh, look, we're doing more capital works for you, but we're charging you more to do the capital works,’” Francis said. “I think we can pat ourselves on the back if we're saying ‘listen, we're doing more capital works with you, but we're not charging you more to do it.’”
Dilkens indicates the city is mandated by the province to fund the asset management plan, but has some ideas of his own to bring the number down. For now, he’s keeping them close to his chest.
“I feel quite comfortable to say that we'll be able to get the number down to around 4.5 per cent,” he said.
According to Francis, it’s a number that is still too high, which sets the stage for some tough conversations come Monday.
“4.5 per cent right now, I will not support,” said Francis.
If a 4.5 per cent increase is the number council lands on, it would equate to $145 extra on the average property owner’s tax bill.
Council meets Monday at 10 a.m. to go through the annual exercise.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, Ontario police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.
Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 'Ramblin' Man,' has died. He was 80.