Cheryl Braan, Acting Commissioner, Corporate Services/Chief Financial Officer, provided a presentation outlining the process that the Sub-Committee will follow. A copy of the presentation is appended to the agenda. She highlighted that the purpose of this meeting is to ensure that the plan that has been developed by staff to respond to Council’s direction is appropriate. She highlighted that four meetings have been scheduled and will be designed to function in a less formal manner.
The Sub-Committee noted its desire to make formal recommendations to the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee if necessary.
C. Braan explained that the focus of each meeting will be on the areas listed in the resolution from Council. The next meeting will look at funding of external organizations, followed by legislated and administrative costs, and finally options to achieve a budget that has less than an 8% tax rate increase. It was noted that although the sub-committee is working in a tight time frame, adding more meetings is a possibility.
Sub-Committee members requested that information that is provided include a review of funding that is received from other levels of government and how it compares to the services that are provided, and the five year history of grants that have been received. A further request was made for an overview of costs that Council has added over the last two years outside of the budget process and where this money has come from.
Responding to questions, C. Braan noted that staff can provide the MBN Canada benchmarking for comparable service levels and a copy of the 2019 KPMG report that looked at service levels.
C. Braan stressed that staff will not put anything in, or remove anything from, the budget without Council approval, and that Council will need to approve any expansions or reductions. She noted that of the potential 13% tax increase, 4-5% is related to service expansions, that have been approved by Council.
Mathieu Goetzke, Acting Chief Administrative Officer, stated that staff are looking at options for how to reduce the the 13%.
Sub-Committee members noted that the meeting minutes will be available and that members of the public, including MPs and MPPs, will have the opportunity to review them.
In response to a question from the Sub-Committee, Jennifer Rose, Commissioner, Engineering and Environmental Services noted that infrastructure costs increase when the population expands, and that with the population growth in the Region, there are increased costs just to maintain service levels that are not covered by assessment growth.
C. Braan noted that staff have not dedicated time for the Sub-Committee to look at the capital budget, but stated that a report on the long term sustainability of the capital program is planned for September.
Sub-Committee members requested that staff provide information on any duplication of grants between the Region and the area municipalities, and the costs of debt serving.
Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Commissioner, Public Health & Paramedic Services/Medical Officer of Health, reminded the Sub-Committee that when front line services expand there is a need to expand the necessary administrative support. This often does not happen which puts a strain on various areas.
M. Goetzke stated that Council establishing budgetary principles is helpful for staff and stressed the need to consider the impacts on future budget years when making decisions.
Received for information.