M. Merritt, General Manager, Financial & Data Services provided an overview of the budget, including drivers of the increases in cost, and spoke to the impact of inaccurate estimates of customers and consumption in previous years on the budget.
T. El-Ahmed, Treasurer, spoke to the new online budget book.
H. Love, Supervisor, Budget & Financial Planning reviewed the operating budget.
C. Burke, Senior Financial Analyst, reviewed the capital forecast document.
Council asked questions and received answers from staff regarding:
- Whether the federal gas tax fund is used to offset cost of water/wastewater, and whether this will change moving forward;
- The amount of cost recovery that is obtained from urban areas vs. industrial use;
- The impact of climate on the budget (wet vs. dry weather);
- The backflow program and how it is financed;
- Reporting and compliance requirements from the province;
- Water billing and options to offer electronic billing, align billing cycle to month end, or offer billing options directly from Haldimand County;
- Impact on costs if infrastructure was built to replace dependence on Hamilton water supply;
- Explanation of the costs associated with fire protection services;
- Details on the increase of costs for bulk water customers, and plans for a rate study;
- Plans to introduce payment options at the bulk water depots;
- The wastewater receiving station in Dunnville and plans to update/replace the facility; and
- Cost recovery of shared projects with Norfolk County.
Mayor Bentley called a recess at 10:51 a.m.
Council resumed at 11:02 a.m.