Cut even more: Collingwood councillor

By Morgan Ian Adams Collignwood Enterprise Bulletin March 5 2011

COLLINGWOOD – A councillor has put forward a motion to chop even more from the municipal budget.

Councillor Kevin Lloyd proposed staff come back with further spending reductions – beyond what was suggested on Thursday – by 1% less than 2010 levels.

Lloyd said he reached that after discussions with a number of local residents.

Lloyd said the spending in 2010 was “too big, too much.”

The councillor’s request would mean staff would have to find another $250,000 on top of the $500,000 staff was directed to see if they could cut out of the budget on Thursday.

Council approved Lloyd’s recommendation, 5-3.

Deputy-mayor Rick Lloyd said the direction to cut another 1% was “not cast in stone; staff will come back with the possibilities – or if it’s even possible.”

By Morgan Ian Adams March 5 2011

COLLINGWOOD – Mayor Sandra Cooper suggested this morning that the town slash spending beyond what’s already expected.

Opening this morning’s public budget meeting, Cooper said she wants to “send a message that we’re open for business,” and that a reduction in spending is necessary – “not more, and not status quo.”

That may suggest council could be looking for deeper cuts than what was suggested at council’s budget meeting on Thursday; at that meeting, councillors unanimously supported a recommendation that staff review the budget and come back with a budget with spending at 2010 levels.

“Our community… has experienced the worst economic times since the 1930s, and a lot of municipalities are struggling the same way,” Cooper said this morning. “Seniors have watched costs escalate while their investments have been reduced, blue collar families have lost jobs, and those who still have jobs have seen little to no increase in wages.

“We should have a tax reduction, and do our part to help the most vulnerable.”