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Hot debate gets Grimsby budget reduced Personality clashes, irate residents and some compromise at lengthy meeting By Mike Williscraft NewsNow In a rollercoaster of a budget debate, Grimsby council whittled its 2020 budget increase to 13.4 per cent on the Town portion - down from a projected 16.7 per cent. The increase represents $137 on an average home assessed at $444,000. When combined with taxes from the Niagara Region and school boards, these investments result in an overall increase of 7.15 per cent for Grimsby taxpayers - comprised of the Town’s tax bill impact comes in at 3.74 per cent and the region’s 3.41 per cent. In the meeting, which spanned more than fiveand-a-half hours, some budget items drew extensive debate, while others passed unchallenged. Some of the items approved, included: • An annual investment as part of Grimsby’s funding commitment to the redevelopment of West Lincoln Memorial Hospital $200,000; • On-demand public transit solutions, developed in partnership with Niagara Region and neighbouring communities - $250,000; • Shoreline protection to maintain and enhance pub-
Gary McClure signs in - with help from a town staffer who did not want to be named - as one of seven delegates in the first “open mic” Grimsby council has ever allowed as part of a meeting. Williscraft - Photo
lic access to the waterfront; • Investments in parks, tree planting, heritage protection and green initiatives - $59,000; • Increase in the legal budget to ensure new development is in the best interests of the community - $250,000; • Enhancements to valued community events like the annual tree lighting ceremony - $13,000; • Financially sustainable
solutions for snow removal - $130,000; • Public safety investments in fire services $91,000; • A dedicated Town economic development function to help Grimsby businesses start, stay and grow in the community $44,000 prorated with a September start date, but a $150,000 annual cost projected in 2021 and beyond, and; • Main Street East Cul-
tural Heritage Landscape Study or Heritage Conservation District Study $100,000. The casualties, either items which were deferred or eliminated, include: • New hire for communications - $113,000; •Infrastructure levy of $125,000 deferred to next year; • Wayfinding study $16,000 - referred to staff to find funding from within existing budgets,
and; • Council facility upgrades (mainly new chairs for council members and a microphone bank for department heads at council meetings) - $35,800. The standing-room-only crowd heard a series of speakers - both through delegations and the inaugural session of an “open mic” format prior to budget discussion. While two residents registered as delegates, seven signed up in the town hall lobby for the open mic. Open mic speakers were given two minutes each to share their thoughts on the proposed budget. Resident George Trifunovic reviewed a lengthy series of numbers to show council the impact to residents is higher than they seem to believe. Quoting a letter from former council member Nick DiFlavio who called council’s budget “unbridled spending”, Trifunovic said council appeared to “rubber stamp the requests of staff.” Coun. Randy Vaine said Trifunovic got stuck on the same information other residents did - the 16.7 per cent increase number - for which he blamed local newspaper coverage. “They didn’t do a proper job,” said Vaine, adding he provided a standard reply to inquiries over the last week to which he got a “Thanks for clarifying” response. Several members of the See TAXES, Page 2