Percentages in property tax hikes meaningless, county warden says
Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones wants everyone to stop comparing municipal budget increases by their respective percentages.
“This whole percentage nonsense means absolutely nothing. We’ve got to get away from talking about percentages,” he told city Rotarians during their regular lunch meeting at the Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront on Monday.
His comments came after a draft 2019 county budget was recently tabled with a proposed 4.44 per cent property tax hike.
To illustrate his point, Jones pointed out that if the city were to increase its levy by one per cent, it could generate $2.7 million. If the county were to follow suit, it may generate $400,000. His own township, Douro-Dummer, might generate $40,000.
“So what is the point? It means nothing at all,” the county’s longest-serving warden said in his eighth annual address to the club. “I’m really hoping to change that mindset.”
Jones, who was warden for seven years before he was defeated by Joe Taylor in 2016, told Rotarians he is glad to be back.
“It’s a job I very much enjoy,” he said, calling himself a “regular guy” who has an ability to get people together to make decisions.
He spoke about shared services, including a recent “miscommunication” with the city regarding an additional ambulance for County-City Paramedics, as well as how the county continues to work on its provincially-mandated asset management plan.
It’s another area that used to be the responsibility of the province, that is now in the hands of municipalities, Jones said. “People wonder why taxes go up every year … (the province) never sends along the money to go along with (downloads).”
The county is also lobbying to be exempt from the province’s Growth Plan, he said.
The warden also identified the James A. Gifford Causeway as a priority. The county had hoped to start reconstruction on the $20million project this year, “but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen” due to federal regulatory approval, he said.
The busiest road in the county has higher traffic volumes than some sections of Highway 401 on weekends and the wind storm that damaged the span last year further highlighted the need to fix it, Jones said.
“It needs immediate attention.” The former broadcaster and newspaper publisher began his speech with trivia aiming to differentiate the county from the city.
The county has a population of 54,000, he said, asking Rotarians to consider the impact those residents have on business in the city.
The county is also six times the size of the Greater Toronto Area, has 260 staff, more than 700 kilometres of roads, 150 bridges and culverts and a budget of $77 million — including $12.5 million for infrastructure.
“So that’s a pretty big organization,” said the Warsaw resident of 44 years, who was on hand with Deputy Mayor Andy Mitchell of Selwyn.
NOTES: The annual Carl Oake Rotary Swimathon returns to the YMCA pool Friday at 7 a.m. with 25 teams, including five from city Rotarians ... The Peterborough Rotary Auction held Jan. 26 at Peterborough Golf and Country Club raised more than $28,000 in support of Homeward Bound and other Rotary efforts, an increase of more than $3,000 from last year ... Rotarians next meet Feb. 25.