59 Carden St.

We'll give you money -- next year

Posted by Magda

There was some speculation yesterday about how the province's announcement about services they plan to upload would affect the city's 2009 budget. Today, we found out: not at all.

Which doesn't mean the news wasn't good for Guelph. The province will take back welfare and court security costs, in 2010 and 2012, respectively. That'll be a millions-a-year boost to city coffers.

Read about local reaction to the announcement in the Merc tomorrow. In the meantime, here's reaction from around the province.

By the numbers

Posted by Magda
Some highlights from the proposed capital forecast:

Hanlon Creek Business Park: $21 million, 2009-2016

Baker Street redevelopment: $57.7 million, 2009-2012

New composter: $30 million, 2010

Wilson Street parking garage: $16 million, 2009

South end community centre: $35 million, 2011-2015

Community arts centre: $4 million, 2012-13

Gas-price wrench

Posted by Magda
Gas prices throwing a wrench in your plans? Be glad you're not the City of Guelph.

There was some discussion at the budget meeting tonight about how the wild ups-and-downs of gas prices will affect next year's bottom line. The city lowered its expected expenditure on gas after the recent downturn in prices; the police board, though, kept its estimate at $1.23 per litre. Given that they use 100,000 litres of gas a year, even a small drop in the price makes a big difference.

We'll likely see revised predictions on Dec. 15, when councillors vote on next year's budget.

(Photo from Rick Bowmer, Associated Press)

City hires new contractor

posted by Nicole

The City of Guelph has hired a new contractor for its city hall project.

Alberici Constructors Ltd., is expected to start as early as tomorrow, although a firm construction completion date is not yet known.

Read more in tomorrow's Mercury.

In search of the community arts centre

Posted by Magda
I noticed a line in the city's capital budget that surprised me. It lists $4 million for 2012-2013 for a community arts centre. There's been talk of this before -- people have suggested it might, for instance, be a good use for the library building once the new one is built. I've made half a dozen calls this afternoon and haven't learned much yet. If you've heard anything let me know; otherwise, stay tuned.

(Thanks to Kate Hopwood for the cool logo, which will accompany all our budget coverage, here and in the paper.)

Shelter dates sketchy

Posted by Magda
When council decided to start a temporary youth shelter until the permanent one was ready, the motion said it would open Nov. 1. Now we're hearing it'll be the first week of November. After all this wait, it'd be ironic if the delays started stacking up.

Security?

Posted by Magda
You might remember the pandemonium on budget night last year. Councillor Ian Findlay certainly does. He suggested this at the budget meeting this afternoon: "I hope our security is a little more rigorous than last year's so we don't have the fire drill scenario we did last year."

I'm curious whether we'll see a repeat of last year -- when the budget passed despite the efforts of angry activists to disrupt the meeting, and someone's success in getting the room evacuated -- and whether Rogers, which last year abandoned the camera, turned the sound off and left me looking at the mayor's empty, muted chair wondering what was going on, will be better prepared.

Have your say

Posted by Magda
Dying for more frequent yard waste pickup? Convinced those snow shovellers that clean your sidewalk are a waste of money? This week is a good time to bring that up.

Council committees are meeting this week to discuss department budgets. Any suggestions from that will be incorporated into the final draft budget. That'll come up for discussion Dec. 2 and 3, but council won't hear from delegations that day. If you don't speak out this week, your next opportunity to do so publicly will be Dec. 15 -- the night the budget gets passed. Of course, you can always email or call your councillors or city staff in the interim.

County-city relations

Posted by Magda
Wellington County's update on this year's financials says the City of Guelph is paying $166,000 a year for Wellington Terrace. "Based on year to date resident day statistics, it is expected that the cost to the city will be approximately $1,070,000 in 2008."

Makes it sound like little's been resolved in the city-county dispute.

• City, county clash over unpaid bills, Oct. 13, 2007
• A caustic conversation, A reluctant partnership, Discussion never returned to Kennedy's offer, April 7, 2008

There was mention at the budget meeting I just came from about the possibility of mediation in this issue. I'll look into this in coming days.

4%, or is that 5.5%

Posted by Magda
The draft budget for 2009 includes a tax increase of 4% -- not the 6.5% guideline set by council. I'm heading to the first budget meeting of the year in about five minutes. Read more this afternoon.

Update: Make that 4% for business as usual, 5.5% including new services. Sorry if I've caused any confusion.