Council and town administration will start a major budget review to sustain continuity on an annual basis at its committee of the whole meeting Monday, which starts at 4 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
CAO Bill Naturkach said Monday morning the review was called as a condition of council’s passing of the 2003 budget, which nearly didn’t get passed at all back on Jan. 13.
“During our ’03 budget process, it was extremely difficult to do everything we wanted to. There was the 4.25 residential [tax] increase, but it was basically a band-aid budget,” Naturkach remarked.
“We drew more from our reserves that we had in the past.”
Since January, town administration and management went back to the budget to re-evaluate just how to reduce expenditures and increase revenues so as to prevent having to dip into its reserve funds yet again in 2004.
“It’s quite severe as far as its consequences and the cuts that will be made. It’s going to take a lot of discussion,” said Naturkach.
Council will be receiving the review and its recommendation for the first time today.
“I don’t think council will approve this tonight. It’s that important. There will be more meetings on this,” Naturkach remarked. “We’ve got some decisions to make, and unfortunately, the strategic planning process never really got finished.
“That would have been an important tool in accessing where our priorities should be.”
While the 2003 budget has been passed, the ramifications of the review likely will be felt before the 2004 budget process begins as the proposed cutbacks “will take time,” said Naturkach.
The regular meeting of council will follow at 7:30. Both meetings will take place in the committee room downstairs at the Civic Centre due to renovations to council chambers.
However, the regular council meeting will be preceded by three public meetings, starting at 7 p.m., regarding proposed changes for sewer and water services, setting of sewer and water rates, and the assumption and the closure of a road allowance between Fort Frances and Alberton.
Other business at Monday night’s council meeting includes:
•a update from centennial co-ordinator Marla Simpson regarding plans for the April 11-12 celebration;
•a presentation by Susan Bodnarchuk, chairperson of the “Re-Inventing Fort Frances” committee, regarding a resolution to open negotiations to get a new Ontario Travel Centre here;
•a verbal report from Coun. Struchan Gilson regarding a sprinkler system at the ’52 Canadians Arena;
•the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board’s 2003 budget;
•a request from the Muskie girls’ hockey team for an in-kind donation of five hours of ice rental for the Gavin Davy fundraiser March 15-16 (this Saturday and Sunday);
•an invitation from the Winnipeg Foundation for 2003 grant submissions to the Moffat Family Fund;
•a request for financial assistance from the FFHS Athletic Department to help send the Muskie boys’ curling team to the all-Ontarios in St. Thomas on March 17-21;
•a request for support from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) for its “Room to Grow” initiative resolution;
•an invitation from the Nuisance Bear Review Committee for submissions of information related to the nuisance bear issue in Ontario;
•a request for financial support from Pitch-In Canada regarding National Civic Pride Recognition Month;
•a bylaw to approve certain maintenance service agreements;
•a bylaw to authorize the entering into of a collective agreement with the Fort Frances Professional Firefighters Association; and
•a bylaw to approve purchase and licensing agreements and other documents with various suppliers of computer hardware and software.
(Fort Frances Daily Bulletin)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
