Bluewater Council recently rejected the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority 2020 budget proposal. The ABCA went with an overall budget increase proposal of 1.5%.
ABCA General Manager Brian Horner says if they wanted the same level of funding as 2019 they’d need a 3.22% increase while factoring in the provincial cuts so they already accepted a loss of funding for 2020 with their initial proposal.
He felt their asks weren’t unreasonable and he was disappointed it didn’t get through council.
Bluewater has the largest share among the 12 townships and municipalities with municipal cash value added for the ABCA at 22%.
As for what an acceptable budget looks like to them, Bluewater mayor Paul Klopp says it’s to spend the reserve funding sitting there.
Klopp says the 0.44% 2020 proposed levy for Bluewater would equal almost $300,000 of funding they could spend elsewhere.
Council’s vote to pass the budget fell 5 to 4, council then voted 7 for and 2 against to have the ABCA draw up a 0% budget increase, compared to the 1.5% they brought forth last week (dec 2).
