Sun Times

Municipal officials in the Northern Bruce Peninsul have dropped tax rates by 10 per cent but increased the municipal levy by 8.7.

That unlikely scenario is due to the controversial market value assessment system employed by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, Mayor Milt McIver explained Monday.

McIver said the municipality was able to drop tax rates due to a 19.7 per cent increase in total assessmants.

The preliminary budget was passed afteer a public meeting last week, but not without opposition and debate. Among the budget items contributing to the hullabaloo is an increase in staff wages and remuneration to the council members.

Leading the criticism of the budget was the Stokes Bay Ratepayers Association. The organization sent a strongly-worded letter to council, complaining the budget process and municipal operations were shrouded in secrecy and fraught with mismanagement.

That didn’t sit well with council, although Coun. Betsy Stewart acknowledged the council had short notice to examine it as well after it was submitted by staff.

Pay equity is contributing to a large leap in personnel costs, McIver said after the meeting. Lump sum payments are being made to the staff from a reserve fund set up over the last five years, while the township is also being forced to pay competitive wages to recruit and retain staff.

“We have to pay or we won’t have staff,” McIver said bluntly. “Our staff is still at the low end among Bruce County municipalities.”

That was drummed home to the council in the last two years after it tried to hire a public works superintendent. The original wage package for that job attracted no applicant and even the revised salary raised some eyebrows for its low-ball figures, McIver said.

Council members hadn’t received a raise since 1999. McIver said the increase amounts to about $17,000 for the five members over five years. He said that was more than reasonable.

McIver will be paid a base salary of $7,500, while Deputy-mayor Patricia Greig will receive $6,500. That’s a $1,500 increase for both. Councillors will be paid $5,500. All members will receive $135 for full-day meetings on top of their salary. Half-day meetings will be worth $80 per council member.

The new provincial drinking water regulations will drive costs up by another $110,000. The municipal contract with the OPP has increased by $139,000, primarily due to a new provincial contract for the officers.

Property owners with assessment that have increasd less that 10.1 per cent will enjoy a tax cut. Those above that threshold will see an increase in taxes.