General Committee & Special Council Post-Meeting Highlights – November 11-12, 2024

General Committee & Council considered various items including 2025-2026 Draft Consolidated Budget, DC Charges.

Here’s what happened:

• On November 11, General Committee will be receiving a presentation from Town staff of the 2025-2026 Draft Consolidated Budget.
  • For the Media Release about the Draft Budget, please go here: https://www.huntsville.ca/en/news/release-huntsville-s-draft-2025-2026-budget-presented-for-review-coming-in-under-set-guidelines.aspx
  • For the FAQ Sheet about the Draft Budget, please go here: https://www.huntsville.ca/en/council-and-administration/resources/Documents/FAQ-2025-2026-Draft-Budget-FINAL.pdf
  • For the Draft Budget Book/Report and other related documents, please go to the Budget/Finances Page on Huntsville.ca: https://www.huntsville.ca/en/council-and-administration/budget-and-finances.aspx#Upcoming-Budgets
• **OUTCOME - Draft Budget Meetings (November 11-12):
  • As presented by staff at the General Committee meeting, the results of the recent Community Budget Survey indicated that, by far the biggest priority for spending, according to the residents who responded, was Roads, Sidewalks, Bridges and Storm Systems. Of survey respondents, slightly over half (50.3%) indicated they would like to see the level of municipal service INCREASED for Roads, Sidewalks, Bridges and Storm Systems; of those respondents, a majority (68.5%) indicated they would be willing to pay more taxes in order to see the service level for roads increased. An additional 45.4% of respondents said they would like to see the level of service for roads operations MAINTAINED; of these respondents, almost half (47%) said they would be willing to pay more taxes in order to maintain the service level on roads, sidewalks, etc. Overall, a vast majority of respondents (95.7%*) indicated they want to see the service level for Roads, Sidewalks, Bridges and Storm Systems Maintained or Increased. Only 4.4%* of respondents said they would like the service level to decrease for roads (*note: percentages may not total 100 due to rounding).
  • During the General Committee meetings on November 11-12, Committee discussed the entire budget, division by division, and identified a number of areas where they felt that spending could be reduced, in order to put more money towards the Roads Capital Program (Roads Capital Reserve), while still maintaining the levy increase within the guidelines set by Council, with the original proposed municipal tax rate increases remaining at 4.84% for 2025 and 4.87% for 2026 (this proposed tax rate increase is less than the maximum increase of 4.99% set by Council in their budget guidelines). The areas identified for reduction included: staff positions not related to Roads Operations, and a requirement for grant funding to be received prior to completing capital improvements at the Canada Summit Centre (hot tub and ice floor covering). The amount of the net levy that General Committee recommended for redirection to the Roads Capital Reserve was $230,000 in 2025 and $270,000 in 2026.
  • General Committee is recommending approval of the Draft Budget, with the revisions directed on November 12, at the Council meeting on Monday, November 25. Please consider this notice that Council intends to approve the 2025-2026 Draft Consolidated Budget at the November 25 Council meeting.
• On November 12, there will be a Special Council Meeting regarding Development Charges (DCs). Council passed a motion at the Regular October Council meeting to defer this matter to a Special Council meeting on November 12, 2024, in order to fully review all the items proposed to be funded through Development Charges and the associated increases being proposed. Council wants to understand more completely how full implementation of the proposed DC changes would affect the community.  Development Charges are paid at the time of obtaining a building permit and are intended to fund future capital needs due to growth.
  • **OUTCOME: Council had a robust discussion regarding the list of items proposed for funding through Development Charges. Council directed staff to make a number of revisions to the proposed Development Charges Background Study and bring back a revised proposal at the November 25 Council Meeting. Please see highlights of the directions coming out of this meeting below:
    • Items that were removed from the list of capital projects included Sledge Hockey Accessibility improvements, a Stormwater Master Plan, and a Snow Plow.
    • Council increased the percentage attributed to growth for the following capital project: Chaffey Township Road Widening.
    • Council reduced the percentage attributed to growth for the following projects: New Public Washrooms, and a Fire Master Plan.
    • There was also direction to change the description of snow blower equipment to “snow removal equipment” at a total cost of $250,000 (was previously $180,000).
    • Council directed that options be presented at the next meeting regarding phasing in the new DC Charges over a period of time, versus bringing the full rate into effect in January of 2025.

Want to dig deeper? Watch the full discussion through the livestream.