Huron-Kinloss looking at seven per cent increase

The recent meeting of council for Huron-Kinloss brought news that taxes in the township could go up by a possible seven per cent for 2008 if adopted the budget at the May 21 meeting, meaning a house worth $200,000 would see an increase of about $56 for the township’s share of their property tax bill.

Doctor recruitment, roadwork, parks and lakeshore concerns are said to be adding to the burden, along with many other expenses, demanded by interest groups and residents alike.

The Ripley streetscape project alone was quoted at a March 3 planning meeting in Ripley by Brian Knox, Bruce County’s Engineer as costing Huron-Kinloss ratepayers as much as $440,000 for the township’s share. The entire project is said to add up to about $750,000. The remainder would come from the county’s tax revenue.

He hopes the project will begin in June 2008 and be completed by September 2008.

It would include things such as storm sewers on County Road 6, repaving of the main roads of the village, along with other long needed necessities.

Repairs on Huron Road however, have been put on hold until 2009.

Another new cost is the algae clean up, which was requested by the residents along the lakeshore.

Residents there want the larger algae blooms cleaned up after they drift to shore.

A local farmer, Sam Snobelen would be contracted for the clean up, using a tractor and an algae harvester.

At a recent meeting, several proposals were brought forward with the best being, if only 10-four-hour shifts needed to clean up blooms. This would cost the township $8,000 a year. If a five-year contract were signed at that rate, would cost the township about $46,000 for five years.

Another ballpark figure is for 12, four-hour visits, which would cost roughly $55,000 for five years.

More costly is the final quote. It was for 16 visits, four hours each, adding up to about $111,000 for five years.

It’s impossible to know how many times Snobelen would need to be called out however, so no one can say for sure the total cost to Huron-Kinloss residents. There is no word on the removal of the groins or removing the over-abundant phragmitis australis weed, which is said to be compounding the sludge problems.

In any case, only a fraction of the beach can be cleaned, due to rocks and rough terrain.

Pre-budget approval for things such as the rail bridge in Lucknow, requested by a local snowmobile club also added to the 2008 costs. The bridge repairs, which also benefited cyclists and hikers, cost ratepayers about $7,000. Pre-budget approval was also given towards playground equipment in the Northwest part of the township, among other things.

The $230,000 Lewis Park will get a boost from the 2008 budget. The budget sees $12,000 go towards the new playground equipment in park, which will total $75,000, and $12,000 will go towards a joint project with the Lucknow Kinettes for a new playground in Lucknow’s Kinsmen Park.

Another $25,000 has been budgeted to pave one tennis court in Ripley and to lay concrete on another. Staff feels there is a need for two tennis courts in Ripley. They feel the concrete court will serve as an ideal surface for skateboarding. The skateboarding ramps would be placed on the concrete in the summer months, to be removed in the winter for an outdoor ice rink.

Prices for the collection and disposal of household waste have also gone up for the township. A new contract could see $118,435.87 per year for three years, up from $107,791.72 per year.

Here’s how it boils down for the Huron-Kinloss portion of your municipal tax bill.

In 2006, residential homes paid $3.73 for each $1,000 their home was worth. A home worth $200,000 paid about $746 for the Huron-Kinloss portion of their tax bill.

In 2007, the additional 8.7 per cent brings it to about $4.06 for each $1,000. This adds up to about $812.

In 2008, the extra 7 per cent brings it up once again, to about $4.34 for each $1,000. This brings the figure to about $868 for the same home, a $56 increase from 2007 and a $122 increase from 2006.

Homes on municipal water as of 2007 paid $220, up from $194 in 2006. This was due in large to the many changes and demands put on municipalities by the provincial government. (Huron-Kinloss still has the lowest municipal water rates in the area.)

Street lighting charges apply to some areas as well. (Ripley, $16.31, Whitechurch, $28.13, Kinlough, $23.28, Lucknow, $31.95, Plan M28, $34.31 *2007 prices)

Those in Lucknow will pay $190 for sanitary sewers. (According to the township website April 18, 2007)

Those on septic systems will pay $55 for the septic re-inspection program.

Those who wish to comment on the 2008 Township of Huron-Kinloss budget can either call the township at (519) 395-3735 or fax them at (519) 395-4107. You can email them at hurontwp@hurontel.on.ca or send a letter to:

P.O. Box 130, Queen Street, Ripley, Ontario, N0G2R0.

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