Unprecedented debt, wrecked Reserves and Staff salaries and benefits up 11.2% at Springwater Township?

The radical Midhurst Secondary Plan requires radical (and very risky) public financing

By Les Stewart

.There is nothing clever about looting the treasury, loading up mega-debt and pacifying taxpayers with a soothing  2% tax rate hike. The draft budget for 2014 is being discussed now and all township taxpayers should be paying attention. It is a radical departure from previous financial practices.

Long Term Debt: Using audited and staff figures, here is the historic and projected use of debt.

Reserve Funds: The township’s budget documents state that debt is only supposed to be used when all reserve accounts are depleted.  However, I am unable to analyze changes to those accounts because my requests to Council for year-end reserve amounts (2003 to 2016) have gone unanswered.

Credibility & Self-Interest: The 2014 Budget calls for an average 11.2% increase in salary-related expenses for the township. When you add up all the budgets, Planning  leads the pack with a 64.9% increase (2012 v. 2014). In fairness, staff numbers go from 3 to 4 in that department (total of 51 for both years).

Summary: First the reserves go, the debt ceiling is hit and then future Councils will be coming for your tax $. Without a single cost-sharing agreement in place, this administration is shoving all the risk onto the public to line the pockets of distant financial speculators.

Since December 2011, I have written about these matters in an attempt to understand and communicate these dangers. I am a candidate for the Oct 27th election because I know the sprawl plan and this budget is unsustainable.

Les Stewart is a declared candidate for deputy mayor of Springwater. Publication of this article does not constitute endorsement by AWARE Simcoe but is intended to encourage debate.