SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
THE
COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 50 ISSUE 11
DRAYTON, ONTARIO
1 Year GIC - 2.06% 3 Year GIC - 2.15% 5 Year GIC - 2.25% Daily Interest 0.90%
638-3328
FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017
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Patriotic skate - Drayton and District Figure Skating Club saluted Canada’s 150th birthday with a routine skated to Stompin’ Tom Connors’ Canada Day song. Skaters carried flags representing each province and territory along with Canadian flags. Rehearsal was held on Mar. 10 with two performances on March 11 at the PMD arena. Additional photo on page 7 Photo by Caroline Sealey
Township taxes to rise $15 per $100,000 of assessment By Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - Residential taxes here will rise by about $15 per $100,000 worth of assessment in 2017. At a special meeting on March 7, Mapleton council approved a budget that is essentially unchanged from a draft presented at a Feb. 15 public meeting in Drayton. The budget calls for expenditures of $9,626,413 this year, compared to $8,774,003 budgeted in 2016. The projected tax levy of $6,554,085 is up by $671,849, or about 11.4 per cent from the budgeted 2016 levy of $5,882,236. The budget calls for a tax rate increase of 3.3%, which includes: - a 4 % increase in capital and reserve contributions to address infrastructure funding shortfalls; and - a 0.7% operating budget decrease. Blended with county and school board taxes, the tax rate increase is expected to be about 2.6%. The township keeps 37 cents out of every property tax dollar collected, with 46 cents going to Wellington County and 17 cents for the education portion. Roads and bridges will
consume 44% of the township’s budget, with administration at 14% and parks and recreation at 13% forming the next largest portions. Of the township’s nearly $4.8-million capital budget, a little over $2 million will come from federal and provincial grant funding. About $1.9 million will come from reserves and $266,700 from debt financing, leaving around $457,000 to be funded through the tax levy. The budget includes increases to reserves or capital contributions to fund a variety for capital projects. The capital fund includes an additional $85,000 for bridges. The township estimates the annual capital need at $1,900,500 per year for 10 years. The 2017 contribution of $400,000 is up from $315,000 budgeted in 2016. An additional $100,000 has been added to the road capital fund, an area where the township projects annual capital needs of $1.66 million per year for 10 years to simply maintain roads in their current condition. The 2017 contribution of $1.36 million is up from just over $1 million budgeted last year. An additional capital contribution of $15,000 will go toward capital needs to main-
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tain the township’s vehicle fleet. The township estimates it needs $350,000 per year to provide sustainable fleet funding. The increase brings the 2017 contribution to $265,000. Another $90,000 has been added to the PMD arena capital fund. A budget report from CAO Brad McRoberts notes capital reserves will be needed to fund a new ice refrigeration system in 2020 and fund driveway improvements, brine pump replacement and roof repairs in 2017. The 2017 contribution is up to $140,000 from the 2016 level of $50,000. Capital projects for 2017 include: - $16,000 for computer equipment replacement; - $30,000 for new front counter and workstations to enhance accessibility; - $1.2 million for McGivern Street improvements in Moorefield; - about $2.5 million in bridge work, including $1.4 million for PB024 in Glen Allan; and - $526,000 for Maryborough Community Centre upgrades (50% funded through a Ontario 150 capital grant). Operating budget highlights include: SEE BUDGET » 3
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Review provides options for changes to municipal services By Patrick Raftis ALMA - The results of a municipal service review of Mapleton Township were presented at a public meeting at the Alma Community Centre on March 7. Less than a dozen citizens were on hand as CAO Brad McRoberts went through a report outlining conclusions and recommendations resulting from the review. Prepared by staff under the direction that “everything is on the table,” the review generated a range of options in terms of maintaining, increasing or decreasing staffing and service in all municipal operations. The review compares the staffing and service levels of Mapleton (population 9,989) to those of three other municipalities: Minto (pop-
Mapleton has the largest area, but the lowest population density among municipalities compared. While consistent with the municipality’s agricultural base, this also results in fewer residents to support municipal services over a greater area, the report explains. In the study group, Mapleton has the highest population of 0 to 14-year-old residents and the lowest population over 65. The median age in Mapleton is the lowest, over 10 years younger than the other municipalities. In terms of overall financial health, Mapleton ranked second in the group for net financial position per capita. Yet the review concludes that although Mapleton has the second highest current value assessment, SEE SERVICE » 4
PeeWees up two in OMHA final DRAYTON - The Drayton Defenders PeeWee Rep hockey team is up two games to none in its all-Ontario final against the Muskoka Rock. Drayton travelled to Port Carling to play game one of the OMHA final series on March 11. The Defenders defeated the Rock 2-1 in a close game.
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ulation 8,334), Wellington North (population 11,447) and Adjala-Tosorontio (population 10,603). “You look at the services you provide and ... compare to other municipalities,” explained McRoberts. The draft report shows that, based on full-time equivalent (FTE) figures, Mapleton has the lowest number of employees per square kilometer and the second lowest FTE number per 1,000 population of the municipalities in the study. Mapleton has the equivalent of 34 full-time employees (26 full time, 17 parttime), while Minto has 41.75 (38 full time, 11 part time), Wellington North 42.3 (37 full time, 11 part time) and Adjala-Tosorontio 29 (29 full time). The review revealed
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returned series The to Drayton on March 12 at 1:45pm. A full house at the PMD arena in Drayton cheered the team on to a 7-1 victory. The Defenders lead the series with four points. The first team to reach six points wins the OMHA title. Game 3 was to be played
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in Port Carling on March 14 at 7pm (results not known by press time). Game four, if needed, is on March 19 in Drayton at 1:45pm. Game 5 would be played in Port Carling on March 25 at 2pm. A sixth game, if necessary, would be played in Palmerston on March 27 at 7pm.
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