Budget Quibbles

Budget all day Saturday. I can't feel positive about it. I will continue to oppose  funding for the Culture Centre.

I will  argue  for museum  funding. But the grant to the  Historical Society should be transferred  to the museum  and the grant to the Culture Centre should be significantly reduced.

 I do not agree taxpayers should be "buying" culture .

 Culture  has had status in the town since Noah built the Ark.Museum service is culture  As are Library Services ......Pottery Club ...Art Society....Writers'  Club .....Arboretum.;;;as infinitum.

All add to  our quality  of life.

I just don't believe, other than  finding facilities, it should add to the tax burden.

So...it's a budget item.

The Capital  Construction Budget was approved last week. My vote was not in favor.

$3 million  are budgeted to change all street lighting to LED in one fell swoop.

LED lighting is expensive because it' s new.

It's not proven. Hasn't been around long enough.

Disposal of existing ,still functional lighting , adds to waste disposal and capacity problems.

We are all about reducing and re-cycling.

Lighting is not organic. Is there a program for re-cycling light fixtures?

In our own households, would we change light bulbs while they still had life?

Would we change every bulb in the house before we've  even tested something new.

Do we swallow holus-bolus every commercial promotion aimed at us?

St John's Sideroad and Leslie Street are changing  to urban standards. Illumination is to be added. Makes  sense to use LED lighting .

Development charges will  properly  finance the project.

Adding $3 million  to  2014 capital construction budget  for the purpose is  not responsible financial management.

Re-lining water  pipes with plastic theoretically reduces water loss. The town has spent an average of $1million a year for ten  years without  a monitor for effectiveness.

If there is merit,  the Region should be footing the bill.  Responsibility for water supply and waste management is Regional. They collect development charges for the  purpose.

Water rates are a tax. Increases should be reflected in the tax bill. They should not be separated out to create illusion and confusion.

The capital construction budget  has an item to install a bulk water meter at St.Andrew's Village
Retail Centre. Individual properties have been metered. The Centre itself has not. A meter at  town
cost  of $80,000. is to be  installed at the property line.

It means  the centre will pay for all water  consumed. Until now, the  real cost has been
subsidized within the  ate calculation.

It is time for calculation of water rates downwards.

These arguments  are not new.

 I am nothing ,if not persistent.

They continue to be valid .

A person comments  this morning the lease of our hydro building is a deal that cannot be broken.

Not so.

A sale  is a deal that cannot be undone.

A lease is not the same thing.

Termination of that lease  is worth  more than any federal grant that may or may not be available to build a new facility  to meet the town's needs.

We own the building. Our responsibility is the town's interest. The armories sits vacant taking up space in the corner our park. The federal government continues to seek ways to reduce expenses.
That is their mandate. one way it  to reduce funds for the militia. It should not be done  at the expense of Aurora taxpayers.

If public works needs are as urgent as stated  ,the hydro building  is urgently needed for  the parks department.

No ifs ands or buts.

Rent  revenue for the building is a drop in the bucket compared to spending  required to create a level site  for a joint facility on the side of a ravine in the flood plain of the valley of the Holland River .

Pshaw!!!!!!!!!!