Marshall fails in bid to pass ODSP savings on to taxpayers

By Kate Harries AWARE Simcoe November 23 2011

In a bid to ease the burden on taxpayers, Penetanguishene Mayor Gerry Marshall moved to use $903,000 – the amount the county saved in 2010 because the province uploaded the Ontario Disability Support Program – to offset the 2012 tax increase.

The move would have slashed almost a full percentage point off the levy, bringing it down to a 0.6 per cent increase over last year.

Marshall urged that taxpayers deserve relief in these hard economic times. “We’ve been blessed with about $11 million in surplus,” he said.

New Tecumseth Mayor Mike MacEachern pointed out that the province’s uploading of $2 million in OSDP costs amounts to a 2 per cent savings.

“There was no requirement for the county to raise additional funds this year because there was 2 per cent provided by the province,” he said, arguing that the benefit of provincial uploading has to trickle down to the lower tier municipalities.

Innisfil Deputy Mayor Dan Davidson asked: “Are we taking more money from the taxpayer than we currently need to?”

Bradford West Gwillimbury Deputy Mayor Rob Keffer said taxpayers should get a break as a result of the county’s financial situation. “I look at this motion as just being able to pass on some of that good fortune onto our taxpayer.”

But Collingwood Deputy Mayor Rick Lloyd said staff are to be congratulated for ensuring there are surpluses, and Springwater Mayor Linda Collins expressed fear that a reduction this year could result in a greater increase next year. “I think our taxpayers are best able to handle even, predictable tax increases,” Collins said. 

Midland Mayor Gord McKay said the larger issue is an overall shortfall in funding from the province. “I think 1.5 per cent is fine,” he said. “We need a better discussion with the province as to where our costs are coming from.”

The motion to lower the tax rate was defeated.

Overall, the levy increase was half a percentage point lower than the 2 per cent target that had been set earlier in the process. 

That’s because a $1.5 million grant to Lakehead University was reduced by $500,000 by members of the performance management committee on November 10.

Marshall and Oro-Medonte Deputy Mayor Ralph Hough moved to further reduce funding for Georgian College and Lakehead University to 2010 levels – $400,000 to Georgian and $500,000 to Lakehead. 

But councillors decided 26-5 (97-18 weighted vote) to give Georgian $500,000 and Lakehead $1 million.

YEAS:  Councillors Baguley (6); Burkett (3); Clarke (3); Cooper (5); Collins (4); Duffy (3); Ferguson (3); Foster (4); Deputy Warden Hughes (5); Councillors Keffer (4); Kramp (3); Lawrence (4); Lloyd (4); Macdonald (3); MacEachern (6); Marion (1); McKay (4); Miller (5); Milne (5); Warden Patterson (5); Councillors Rawson (2); Savage (3); Small Brett (2); Walsh (2); Warnock (3); White (5) – TOTAL – 97

NAYS:  Councillors Davidson (6); Dowdall (3); Hough (4); Marshall (2); McLean (3); – TOTAL – 18 

Lloyd moved to reinstate the 2 per cent level increase by adding $500,000 to the roads budget (a measure that had been lost in a tied 6-6 vote at performance management.)

Numerous councillors spoke in favour, including Ramara Deputy Mayor Basil Clarke, Adjala Tosorontio Mayor Tom Walsh and Deputy Mayor Mary Small Brett, Warden Cal Patterson, Collins and Hough

Springwater Deputy Mayor Dan McLean expressed puzzlement that the county is increasing taxes to cover mandated services like roads while spending money on non-mandated items like post-secondary education and hospitals.  

Among those opposed to adding a portion of roads funding back were Wasaga Beach Deputy Mayor David Foster, Penetanguishene’s Marshall, and New Tecumseth’s MacEachern.

Lloyd’s motion was defeated 10-17.

MacEchearn and Essa Mayor Terry Dowdall attempted to eliminate a new position in the county’s communications department, bringing the total complement up to five, with a total budget of $1.2 million

Cost of the position is $94,000, with a salary of $60,000 and an anticipated reduction in consulting costs of $15,000, social services manager Terry Talon said.

The motion was decried as “nickel and diming” by Collins, and “micro-managing” by Clarke. 

MacEachearn disagreed. “It’s our responsibility to reflect what we’re hearing in our community,” he said. “They’re having to do more with less.”

The motion to eliminate the extra communications staffer was defeated 19-10.

Sharpeyed waterwatchers noted four councillors with Nestle water bottles on their desks after lunch break: Innisfil’s Baguley, Collingwood’s Lloyd, Ramara Mayor Bill Duffy and Essa Deputy Mayor Sandie MacDonald. The county that is home to the purest water ever tested should know better than to order bottled water for lunch. Just open the tap and fill your glass! And keep the plastic out of the dump.

Media coverage