Amherstburg trims hike to 7%

AMHERSTBURG — Amherstburg councillors made no further cuts Tuesday to the proposed 2014 budget and agreed to include almost $5 million in capital projects as long as council has final approval before those projects are given the go ahead.

Amherstburg’s municipal tax increase remained seven per cent — down from the original 10.01 per cent projected when budget deliberation began.

That increase does not include any proceeds from the proposed sale of Amherstburg’s Essex Power shares, which will be decided at a special council meeting on May 6.

A possible $493,000 surplus is included in the figures — of which $290,000 would be applied to reduce the tax rate and the remainder placed in the tax stabilization reserve — but CAO Mike Phipps said further analysis is required to ensure the figures are accurate.

“We don’t know. It’s just an understanding of whether it’s a book entry or whether it’s something we actually have,” Phipps said.”

Administration will report back to council on the issue and if there is a problem the budget process will have to be reopened. Council still has to pass a bylaw to approve the budget.

Tempers flared and councillors sparred for almost an hour Tuesday morning over the accuracy of staffing levels, payroll information and the lack of comparative budget figures from 2013, which are normally provided by administration.

Councillors decided against cutting $20,000 for dust control on gravel roads, $4,000 to underwrite an annual car show and $20,000 for Canada Day celebrations at Fort Malden.