ACTUALITÉ / NEWS
Clarence-Rockland budget moves closer to final approval
gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca Bourget
protection services, which insurance companies then use to help calculate their own fire insurance premiums. FUS officials told both Sabourin and the Vision in separate interviews that not having a qualified primary unit for fire calls would mean a reduction in the city’s FUS grading for fire protection. That would then affect local fire insurance premiums for homes and businesses. Right now householders and business owners enjoy savings on their fire insurance premiums ranging from 30 per cent to 70 per cent, depending on other factors, with the current FUS rating for the city. That translates to savings of from $300 to $1500 on fire insurance costs. Lack of a qualified primary unit for fire calls would change the city’s grading and could mean increases in local fire insurance ra- tes every year until the municipality took measures to restore the original FUS grading. In her highlights summary, McLean- Leroux noted that the provincial operating grant to the city was cut this year by $161,700. The grant was reduced last year also by $179,700. In both cases the city had to tap its reserve fund to make up the revenue shortfall in both the 2011 and 2012 budgets. A further cut of $22,800 in provincial support grants is expected next year. The city also faces an increase in its policing costs of $43,874 compared to last year. Municipal debt repayment has increased by $411,280 compared to last year, and operating expenses for the city transit system has also increased this year by $70,870. Some of that extra cost will be offset by fare increases that take effect in April.
Just in time for St. Valentine’s Day the City of Clarence-Rockland should have its 2012 budget signed, sealed and approved. Finance Director Chantal McLean-Le- roux presented an overall breakdown of this year’s municipal budget, along with a highlights report, to council during its Feb. 6 committee of the whole session before a small audience of about a dozen residents at the Bourget Community Centre. Final review and approval of the budget will take place during the Feb. 13 regular session of council in Rockland. Including both regular operating expenses and a proposed capital works program of $3.3 million, the final budget for 2012 totals $26.9 million. A little under half of that amount in the revenue portion consists of provincial grants, a small draw on the municipal reserve fund, and projected development charges. The other half of the city’s budget revenue this year will come from the municipal levy, projected at $13.6 million. That means 3.5 per cent increase in the overall tax rate to raise the levy. For the average homeowner that translates into an increase of $22.87 for every $100,000 assessed value of a property. Individual property tax demandswill vary depending on how the Municipal Provincial Assessment Corporation (MPAC) has valued the property. Property tax notices will go out in the mail later in the season. Householders and business owners also need to remember thatthetotalamountonataxnoticeincludes the municipal levy assessed on their property and also the property taxes that
Photo Gregg Chamberlain The fire department has a large share of the capital works portion of the budget this year, with a new pumper truck as the big ticket item to maintain Clarence-Rockland's high standing for fire protection, which also means favourable fire insurance rates for local homeowners and businesses.
the city has to collect for the school districts, the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR), and other agencies like the South Nation Conservation Authority. The city portion of a property tax notice amounts to about 47 per cent. About $2.6 million of the capital projects budget is split between public works department and the fire department. The public works portion will go towards studies and plans for improvements to Caron Road, Drouin Road, Montée OutaouaisBridge,andsomesidewalkwork, plus storm sewer upgrades for Victor and Woods streets, and replacing the Old
Highway 17 culvert. Most of the $1 million of the capital works portion of the budget for the fire department goes towards equipment re- placement, including purchase of a new pumper truck to serve as the primary unit for call-outs. When faced with last-minute questions from some council members about the necessity for the spending $450,000 for a new pumper, Chief Pierre Sabourin replied that the present unit is 20 years old nowand does not meet the ratings guidelines for a primary unit set by the Fire Underwriters Survey of Canada (FUS). The FUS does grading of municipal fire
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