City risks running a deficit, council told

Posted By Peggy Armstrong, Lindsay Post Reporter

Posted 2 months ago

KAWARTHA LAKES - The city is facing the risk of a deficit, council was told at its Nov. 24 meeting.

"The financial picture isn't that strong right now," director of finance Rudy Huisman said in presenting his third quarter report. "It's not in a panic situation either," he added.

"I was a little nervous in the third quarter when it became apparent that interest rates weren't going to rise and our investment income was going to fall short of budget. Also that MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) normally would have a greater handle on growth and getting it into the assessment base, really fell short."

He added that a winter storm "that requires all hands on deck" could add to the financial strain.

"We have been struggling with the 2010 capital budget," he added. He said it is necessary to pare down the list of upcoming capital projects and keep costs to a minimum.

Mayor Ric McGee said the financial picture wasn't too bad, that it could be a lot worse.

"In the last few years, we have been taking a lot more out of our reserves than we have been putting in," Huisman said.

"In order to get our reserves in shape ... that would require four to five million dollars to top it up. That translates into a 5 to 6% tax rate increase to raise that."

"I don't want to shatter any councillors' illusions, but the shocking reality may be that we have to do some major scaling back this year," said Ward 1 Coun. Lloyd Robertson. He added that maybe this year some people will listen regarding budget restraints.

- Kawartha Dairy is seeking $620,000 in funding from the Rural Economic Development program.

The Bobcaygeon-based business received council endorsement on Nov. 24 for a letter to be sent to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs from the mayor and Ward 13 Coun. Pat Warren in support of the application.

According to the council motion, "Kawartha Dairy is seeking to re-engineer its production and shipping areas and to add new technologies that will provide additional packaging flexibility, higher processing speeds, better materials handling capacity, and improved food safety and quality control for the manufacturing of premium ice cream."

- The Enhanced Police Visibility Program has received funding of just under $53,000 from the city.

Approval was given by council on Nov. 24 to continue the program in 2010, which Ward 13 Coun. Pat Warren described as "a great bang for our buck." The funds will be drawn from the OPP rate stabilization reserve.

The program is a partnership between the city and the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP. The program is designed to increase police visibility in the city's communities, waterways and trails.

Funding for the program began in May, 2008 with $20,000. In December of 2008, $53,000 was approved by council for 2009.

- The City of Kawartha Lakes has become one of the leading communities in Ontario for placing public access defibrillators (PAD) and training people in CPR, Kawartha Lakes EMS supervisor of quality assurance Ron McMillan told city council on Nov. 24.

He noted that "November is resuscitation month and Kawartha Lakes EMS has coordinated 12 CPR clinics throughout the community which are estimated to train 240 citizens in the life saving skill."

McMillan said each person trained got a 'CPR Any Time Kit' provided by the Heart and Stroke Foundation with the mission to train 10 more people.

McMillan brought council's attention to the story of a man resuscitated in the city on Oct. 4, adding that the happy ending is not yet common in the community.

He described the successful treatment of 56-year-old Steve Pinney when he suffered sudden cardiac arrest while viewing a home on Cresswell Rd.

Pinney was treated on the scene by his wife Judy Pinney and real estate agent Andrew Wood, who were guided through performing CPR by Margaret Thurston, the call taker at the Central Ambulance Communication Centre.

The Oakwood Fire division responded, as well as an ambulance from Kawartha Lakes EMS in LIndsay and a Durham Region EMS paramedic who was in the area.

All those involved in the event were recognized with an awards presentation in front of council members.

Steve Pinney thanked everyone for saving him, adding it was the first time he met them.

Since 2008, CKL EMS has coordinated about 5,000 people learning CPR, McMillan said. He said the training "will make stories like Mr. Pinney's become the norm instead of the exception."

parmstrong@thepost.ca