Vol. 10 No. 7
YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER COVERING NORTH DURHAM
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013
Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Wheels Feature . . . . 10 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Entertainment . . . . 22 Classifieds . . . . . . . . 18
Happy Valentine’s Day
Uxbridge discusses Regional budget
Headline Scugog taxes up 3.51 per cent BLAKE WOLFE The Standard
DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
UXBRIDGE: After approving the municipal budget for the coming year on Monday, Feb. 11, Uxbridge councillors turned their attention to the Regional budget, which has left some feeling that North Durham is helping to subsidize areas of South Durham. Uxbridge councillors formally approved the municipal budget for 2013 on Monday, with a 3.77 per cent total increase to the township portion of the tax bill. The amount includes an extra one per cent to fund the construction of a new fire hall for Uxbridge Township. This was the third, and final, year of the additional levy to fund the new facility. Finance Committee Chair Pat Molloy took time after the budget’s approval to thank township staff for their prudent spending, which has amounted to a five per cent increase in the township’s operating budget over the past five years, while still providing key services to township residents. “It’s important to note with a tax increase, that residents have wants and needs, and want to pay the lowest taxes possible,” said Councillor Molloy. “And we’ve been able to add some excellent parks and rec facilities, such as the splash pad and skate park as well as funding for the new fire hall.” Council’s attention then turned to the Durham Regional Budget, which according to Mayor Gerri Lynn O’Connor, is expected to come in with an increase of 2.74 per cent, al-
WINTERFEST RETURNS: Hannah Adam gets some help from Chris Flowers on the skating rink at Nestleton Hall, during the Cartwright Fields’ Winterfest event on Feb. 10. With the recent dumping of snow, the afternoon featured outdoor fun for all ages, including wagon rides, snowman building and the popular chili cook-off. BLAKE WOLFE The Standard though she noted that there are still some outstanding issues with the police budget, which accounts for approximately half of the regional budget. The Mayor then levied criticism for the bloated police budget. “The police service is out of control, especially when you look at some of the salaries coming down through arbitration,” commented Mayor O’Connor. The Mayor also had harsh words
for Durham Region Transit, which she voted against when the measure was initially adopted in 2006. “It’s disgusting what we’re paying for transit. We’re paying the same up here for three days of bus service as they are paying in the south for a bus every 10 minutes. If you are a rural resident, you get nothing,” said Mayor O’Connor. T U R N TO PAG E 4
SCUGOG: Scugog residents can expect to pay an extra $33 on this year’s tax bill, even with the late addition of another unexpected item to the township’s 2013 budget. The budget was passed at council’s Feb. 11 meeting, following discussion of the final draft of the document at a meeting held earlier that afternoon. This year’s budget will result in a tax hike of 3.51 per cent, or approximately $33 on the average tax bill of a property assessed at $329,000. This year’s tax hike was trimmed down from a jump of 3.6 per cent proposed last month, that figure reduced from an earlier hike of 5.25 per cent pitched a week earlier. Although staff and councillors cited ongoing budget pressures noted in previous years such as rising insurance and fuel costs, the township also had to make up for a shortfall in provincial funding, after it was announced in December that Scugog’s 2013 share of Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) dollars - $1,222,600 – would be substantially less than the previous contribution of $1,355,400. According to township treasurer Trena DeBruijn in an earlier interview, the $132,800 reduction is equal to approximately 1.3 per cent of Scugog’s 2012 tax levy. Among the items in this year’s budget: - more than $2,458,000 in infrastructure maintenance costs - $25,000 in community hall maintenance - $13,000 toward the fire department’s next-generation radio system - $25,000 for a development charge study - $22,900 in library operation expenditures Describing the budget as somewhat tight, Ward 5 Councillor and Finance Chair Howard Danson noted that 2013 will also see the township complete its debentures on the municipal office building as well as the second ice pad at the Scugog Arena, paving the way for a brighter 2014. T U R N TO PAG E 5
Family Day Feb. 18th