Budget decisions plagued by uncertainties

Posted Feb 9, 2012 By EMC News

Last night, Feb. 8, Arnprior council was to determine if the tax increase for this year would be 3.5 per cent or, as Coun. Ted Strike asserted on two occasions, less.

Regardless of the increase, whether it is higher or lower than past years, all involved would have to admit the process has been anything but smooth.

First off is a council with many rookie members attempting to conduct budget deliberations without an experienced chief administrative officer (CAO) to guide them. It resulted in a two-month delay getting started.

Popular opinion may hold that public servants are lazy and overpaid, but this council learned quickly that an organization's most important asset is its people.

Uncertainty regarding future actions - above and beyond what is normally expected - has hamstrung decisions that should be made during the current budget deliberations. The two best examples of this are: the three job vacancies at town hall, and the much-talked about tourist centre.

Council and staff brainstormed whether or not to fund the salaries for an economic development officer, clerical administrator, and deputy treasurer.

Staff argued the salaries should be paid, if not, next year's tax hike will be much higher.

Councillors argued they should ask taxpayers to fund what they know will be used.

The reasonable compromise is to assume the jobs will be filled by month six of 2012, and so fund each for a half year.

Trouble is, the town will undergo what could be a complete revamp of its structure. Will those jobs even exist in August?

The second example has to do with a possible tourist centre. While locating the centre downtown, as proposed by Coun. Lynn Grinstead is the best option, the issue is largely moot until the new CAO is in place and sets direction - including whether to hire a downtown co-ordinator and/or an economic development officer.

It is worth mentioning that those who are convinced a tourist booth near the highway will attract more visitors to town are misguided.

Today's traveller is not so impetuous as to slam on the breaks and make for the off ramp because they see a booth with the word 'tourism' written on top.

They plan well ahead of time, searching online or in publications. The few aimless daytrippers that do stray this way are researching online as they go.

No, it's best to fill a vacant location near nicest intersection in town - John and Elgin streets - with an attractive tourist/economic development centre.

It will signal to potential investors that the town is committed to putting its best foot forward. Strike's idea to dust off a trailer and stick it in a parking lot near the highway is an example of thrift causing harm to strategic investing, the latter being a core principle of sound governing.

Of course the town can't move on this project and others at the moment. And while it is true council is moving swiftly in some areas, it is at the expense of being made to seem like it is taking action.

That may sound superficial when talking about a small municipality, but being seen to take action - building something taxpayers can point to - matters. Perception in politics is key to getting re-elected.

Too bad this council is paying the price for moving quickly - the uncertainty, the paralysis - but aren't reaping the rewards from an electorate convinced that things are getting done.