MINUTES - Special Council - 19970224·,,,~
TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL COUNCIL
MEETING NO. 08-97
1997 Budget Review
Holland Room East
Aurora Town Hall
Monday, February 24, 1997
5:00p.m.
II MINUTES II
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL MEMBERS
STAFF MEMBERS
Mayor Jones in the Chair; Councillors Griffith, Healy,
McKenzie, Morris, Ochalski, Sorley, Wallace and
Weller.
Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Corporate
Services, Director of Planning, Director of Building
Administration, Director of Leisure Services, Director
of Public Works, Fire Chief. Treasurer, and
Administrative Coordinator.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations. of interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
#89. Moved by Councillor Sorley Seconded by Councillor Weller
THAT the content of the Agenda be approved as outlined herein.
CARRIED
PRESENTATIONS
Marc Neeb. Chief Administrative Officer and Barbara Cribbett. Treasurer
re: Overview of 1997 Corporate Operating and Capital Budgets
The Chief Administrative Officer provided introductory remarks respecting the 1997
Budget Request and the method in which the budget process was facilitated. He
explained that the budget objective to provide for a zero percent mill rate increase that
was not at the expense of non-growth reserves, and the corporate objective to provide
additional funds designated for roads infrastructure have been achieved.
The Treasurer provided a comprehensive overview of the proposed 1997 Operating
and Capital Budgets for the Town of Aurora. By way of a visual presentation, the
Council members were taken through an introduction to the 1997 Budget Request; a
review of the comparable six year tax increases imposed by the Town, Region, and
School Boards since 1991; and an analysis of the major new challenges for the 1997
Budget. The major Budget challenges which have resulted in a total impact of
$1,169,498 in the Town's 1997 operations and the offsetting Response Plan
proposed by Staff which, if adopted, would result in a zero percent increase to the
taxpayers for the seventh consecutive year. Details respecting the Provincial Transfer
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Aurora Special Council Minutes No. 08-97
Monday, February 24, 1997
Page 2
Grants trend were provided from 1991 to 1997 with no Municipal Support Grant to
be made available in 1998. In addition, specifics on the financing for the Community
Centre -New Arena were given with a comparison of the 1995 budget to the 1996
actual budget.
The 1997 Budget Response Plan was reviewed in detail. An analysis of assessment
growth for the period 1991 to 1997 and building permit activity from 1980 to 1996
were also presented. Continuous improvement adjustments were identified as part of
the Town's philosphy to the implementation of continuous fine tuning adjustments
which responded to operational concerns and quality of service issues. The allocation
of how the Town of Aurora spends its $572.00 share of the average tax bill was
illustrated.
The recommended 1997 Capital Budget was reviewed in detail, and was based on the
fundamental principle that new growth must pay for itself, and that non-growth, tax
base funding had been sufficiently increased to respond to the challenge presented by
an ageing roads infrastructure. Optional programs and their potential funding sources
were also included for Council's consideration.
Finally, Council was apprised of a number of potential financial pressures in store for
1 998 including the loss of the Municipal Support Grant, Provincial Disentanglement,
Current Value Assessment, Development Charge Act amendments, and Governance
discussions.
The presentation was concluded with the Recommendation provided by Staff for the
adoption of the proposed 1 997 Budget with a zero percent mill rate increase to the
Town of Aurora's portion of the property tax for the seventh consecutive year.
Verna Ross. Chair -Aurora Public Library Board and Colleen Abbott.
Chief Executive Officer -Aurora Public Library re: 1997 Library Budget
Submission
Ms. Verna Ross, Chair of the Aurora Public Library Board presented the Library's
proposed Budget to Council. The measures taken by the Board to address the Town's
Budget objectives were outlined. Ms. Ross requested the favourable consideration for
the Budget allocation proposed by the Board in the amount of $1,1 06,954 in 1997.
1997 BUDGET DISCUSSION
Council members raised a number of points for clarification throughout the course of
the budget deliberations. Issues respecting the Seniors facility salary allocations, 1996
actual budget amounts, staff training, municipal cat licensing, 1997 election costs as
part of the General Government budget, utility costs for municipal building facilities
and energy conservation measures, the Town's program for providing bags to dog
owners frequenting municipal parks for animal clean up and enforcement of this, and
use of municipal recreation facilities were all put forward for discussion. Responses
and explanations were provided by Staff to the matters raised in this regard.
#90. Moved by Councillor Healy Seconded by Councillor McKenzie
THAT the Chief Administrative Officer's and Town Treasurer's
recommended 1997 Current and Capital Budgets requiring a tax levy of
$9,701,271 and resulting in a 0% mill rate increase to the Town of
Aurora's portion of the property tax for the seventh consecutive year be
approved.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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Aurora Special Council Minutes No. 08-97
Monday, February 24, 1997
MUNICIPAL SERVICES PERFORMANCE MEASURES PROJECT
Marc Neeb. Chief Administrative Officer re: Municipal Services
Performance Measures Project
Page 3
The Chief Administrative Officer made a presentation to Council regarding the
Municipal Services Performance Measures Project. In the summer of 1996, Aurora
was selected by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to participate in the
Design and Development of Provincial Efficiency Measures. Phase 1 of the Efficiency
Performance Measurement System provided for 14 municipal program areas. Aurora's
preliminary results had been fast tracked so that members of Council could review the
data as part of the Budget exercise, and it is intended that benchmarking information
would be released by the Ministry for all municipalities.
#91. Moved by Councillor Griffith Seconded by Councillor Ochalski
THAT the Chief Administrative Officer's information respecting the
ongoing Performance Measures initiative be received as information.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
#92. Moved by Councillor Ochalski
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
CARRIED
T. JONE.,,
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