CKL OPERATING BUDGET APPROVED

By Kirk Winter

            The City of Kawartha Lakes Council unanimously approved the 2019 City Operating Budget on February 20, 2019.

            The approval will lead to a 2.85 percent tax increase for residents of the City.

            In a process that began last fall, the budget has taken many forms. In discussions that began last month, each part of the budget has been debated with many items extracted and put under the Council microscope.

            This final two hour and 15 minute meeting was no different.

 Important Changes/Discussion

• $100,000 be added to the 2019 operating budget as a contribution to the Community Improvement Plan – passed

• $36,000 be added to the 2019 operating budget to fund the Kawartha Lakes Health Care Initiative to support the development and delivery of a Family Physician Professional Development program – passed

• Effective April 1, 2019 the limit for free leaf waste and yard materials be increased from 150 kilograms to 250 kilograms – passed

• That the 2019 operating budget under Corporate Services – Employer Paid Benefits be reduced by $50,000 relating to WSIB costs – passed

• That the 2019 operating budget under Communications, Advertising and Marketing – Materials, Supplies and Services be reduced $27,000 relating to mobile signs – passed

• That the 2019 operating budget under Paramedics Service be increased $25,000 under a new special projects line item to fund a Paramedics Community Outreach Pilot project – passed

• That 2019 be the final year of the debt repayment from Victoria Manor - $169,000 – passed

• That the 2019 operating budget under Economic Development be increased from $12,500 to $25,000 to further fund the Public Art Program – defeated

• That the 2019 operating budget under Communications, Advertising and Marketing – Materials, Supplies and Services be reduced $80,000 to $142,000 regarding the Branding Strategy – passed

• $12,000 be added for garbage cans as part of the 2019 operating budget – Street Infrastructure – passed

• That the position of Supervisor of Records Management and Archives be removed from the 2019 operating budget and deferred to 2020 budget deliberations – defeated

• That the position of GIS Specialist be removed from the 2019 operating budget and deferred to 2020 budget deliberations – defeated

• That the position of Truck and Coach Technician be removed from the 2019 operating budget and deferred to 2020 budget deliberations – defeated

            In a final motion, moved by Councillor Yeo and seconded by Deputy Mayor Elmslie, the Council voted unanimously to approve the 2019 $200 million operating budget for the CKL.