Budget Committee

Minutes

Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 10:30 A.m. - 12:30 P.m.

Council Chambers

450 Sunset Drive

St. Thomas ON

Members Present:

• Warden Ed Ketchabaw, Chair (Committee Member)
• Deputy Warden Grant Jones (Committee Member)
• Councillor Andrew Sloan (Committee Member - virtual)
• Councillor Mike Hentz (Committee Member)
• Councillor Mark Widner
• Councillor Richard Leatham
• Councillor Todd Noble

Staff Present:

• Blaine Parkin, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk
• Nicholas Loeb, Director of Legal Services
• Jennifer Ford, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer
• Brian Masschaele, Director of Community & Cultural Services
• Amy Thomson, Director of Human Resources
• Peter Dutchak, Director of Engineering Services
• Michele Harris, Director of Homes and Seniors Services
• Jenna Fentie, Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk
• Stefanie Heide, Legislative Services Coordinator

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1.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 10:51 a.m. with Warden Ketchabaw in the chair.

2.

Approval of Agenda

• Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones
  Seconded by: Councillor Hentz

  RESOLVED THAT the agenda for the January 30, 2024 Budget Committee meeting be approved as presented.

  Motion Carried.

3.

Adoption of Minutes

• Moved by: Councillor Hentz
  Seconded by: Councillor Sloan

  RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the Budget Committee meeting held on November 29, 2023 be adopted.

  Motion Carried.

4.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

None.

5.

Delegations

None.

6.

Reports/Briefings

6.1

Director of Financial Services - 2024 Budget Continued

The Director of Financial Services/Treasurer presented the Corporate Activities budget, a list of discretionary budget items, and the draft budget document for the Committee's review. The Director also presented adjustments to the Library, Museum, and Ambulance budgets that were made since the last Committee meeting. 

The Committee discussed the Southwestern Public Health budget and its effects of the County Budget for 2024, and recommended that County Council send an advocacy letter urging the Province to meet their 75% funding obligation. The Committee recommended that no contingency fund be set up to cover potential additional budget asks. 

The Committee reviewed three (3) levy options for the 2024 budget. 

The Committee discussed removing memberships for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Community Schools Alliance.

The Committee discussed referring the requests from the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation for the MRI, the Elgin County Hospice, the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre, and SCOR to County Council for final consideration. 

The Committee discussed holding a period of public consultation at the next Budget Committee meeting.

• Moved by: Councillor Hentz
  Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones

  RESOLVED THAT Option # 1 be used as the basis to calculate the budget levy tax rate increase for 2024; and
  
  THAT the recommended discretionary items be included as presented; and
  
  THAT no changes to the Ratios or Landfill Grants to West Elgin or Dutton Dunwich be made for the 2024 Taxation year; and
  
  THAT the final budget book be prepared for presentation to the public; and
  
  THAT the Budget document be posted online for public consultation for a period of one (1) week, to be followed by a hybrid public consultation meeting to be held at the next Budget Committee meeting prior to final presentation to County Council.

  Motion Carried.

7.

Other Business

None.

8.

Correspondence

None.

9.

Closed Meeting Items

None.

10.

Motion to Rise and Report

None.

11.

Date of Next Meeting

The Budget Committee will meet again on February 13, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. 

12.

Adjournment

• Moved by: Councillor Hentz
  Seconded by: Councillor Sloan

  RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 12:53 p.m. to meet again on February 13, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. 

  Motion Carried.