NVCA draft levy up three per cent, $175k booked for ‘CAO transitional costs’

New Tecumseth Free Press Online

The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) proposed 2015 operating budget projects a tax levy increase of 3.05 per cent or $61,702 more than 2013, which would raise $2.08 million to finance a projected $4.87 million in expenditures.

NVCA’s 18 member municipalities, which includes Adjala-Tosorontio, Essa, and New Tecumseth, are each apportioned a share of the annual levy based on the Current Value Assessment of the property that falls within the watershed jurisdiction.

New Tecumseth’s share of the levy is 12.1 per cent, which in 2015 is proposed to increase by 3.6 per cent to $252,869, a hike of $8,813. Adjala-Tosorontio’s share is 4.4 per cent, which translates to $91,562, a hike of 2.3 per cent or $2,082 over 2014. Essa Township’s contribution to NVCA’s levy is $141,821, an increase of 3.4 per cent or $4,708.

The NVCA’s draft levy represents 42 per cent of the funding source with user fees contributing 23 per cent, while provincial and federal grants combine for 15 per cent.

Wages and benefits will consume 66 per cent of the $4.87 million expenditures, (a four per cent increase over 2014) including $175,000 in what’s termed as the “CAO transitional costs” for 2015The NVCA board of directors dismissed their long-time CAO Wayne Wilson at the end of August under terms that have not been revealed. An interim CAO, Gayle Wood, who came over from the Lake Simcoe Region CA, has been in office since September.

The budget also includes $55,000 in staff COLA adjustments, and $65,000 increase for pension and benefits.

Reserves will be tapped for $100,000 to help balance the budget.

The NVCA’s draft package is on the Board’s Nov. 28th meeting agenda, and is expected to be forwarded to each of the municipalities starting December 1, and expected to be approved no later than February 27, 2015.