Despite another levy hike from the Northwestern Health Unit in 2001, it won’t be the budget headache it was for Fort Frances last year.
Although the levy went up by $1.30 to $34.30 per person, the town will have close to $35,000 left over in the budget after paying the bill–thanks to the latest government enumeration.
The 2000 assessments found the population in town had dropped, leaving council having to pay for fewer residents.
“The per capita levy went up but with the population dropping in town, we have the room,” noted Coun. Deane Cunningham
The budget leeway comes as a stark contrast to last year when the town withheld a $1.27 increase demanded by the health unit for most of the year.
Struggling with their own budget, council questioned the health unit’s administration and efficiency, which eventually sparked a war of words between Mayor Glenn Witherspoon and Dr. Pete Sarsfield, the CEO and chief medical officer for the health unit.
Council finally agreed to pay the levy in November after Dr. Sarsfield threatened to sue the town.
To prevent municipalities from withholding payments this time around, the health unit’s board of directors also passed a policy authorizing interest be charged to any late payments.
“When does the interest letter start ticking? Are we in arrears yet?” Mayor Witherspoon asked during Monday night’s council meeting. He was informed by administration that the town likely will meet the first March deadline.
The extra $35,000 left over due to a smaller population here comes as a boon in a year where council is operating without a contingency fund and already has been faced with a number of non-budgeted requests.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
