Treasurer Boyes presents Central Huron departmental budgets at special meeting
BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN
Central Huron Treasurer Jeff Boyes resumed the municipality’s 2025 budget process with a special meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 4, presenting several departmental budgets before council sees its first consolidated budget next month. This is the first of two departmental budget meetings, with the next one scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 19.
The first departmental budget discussed at the meeting was Central Huron’s environmental expenses, which will see a 0.62 per cent decrease in this year’s proposed budget. Total collection fees through the Bluewater Recycling Association (BRA) are $327,726 and Waste Management’s tipping fees are $83,455 for a total of $421,181.
Boyes noted that Central Huron’s recycling costs are reduced significantly as a result of the new producer pay system. He also told council that the estimated surplus in the system is just under $36,000, which is down significantly from the 2024 surplus of $52,427, and reminded them of the pre-approved compost grinding cost of $112,000.
The fleet and equipment budget has a miniscule 0.16 per cent increase proposed, which is only due to staff wage increases and inflation.
The roads budget is predicted to increase by 4.7 per cent in 2025, which includes an increase for wages and benefits of almost 12 per cent. Furthermore, Boyes told council that more is being budgetted for snow removal due to the heavy, labour-intensive winter the area has seen in the early weeks of the year.
In terms of grants within the department, Boyes noted that the municipality’s Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) allotment has increased from $1,167,970 in 2024 to $1,343,166 this year and the gas tax fund has also increased from $245,201 in 2024 to $255,418 this year.
The small shed for the roads department line in the budget will see an increase of almost 28 per cent due to insurance and maintenance cost increases this year.
In this year’s fire budget, there will be an increase of 5.28 per cent, which includes a two per cent increase to pay for volunteer firefighters, which council has already passed as a bylaw.
Boyes noted that recoveries for Central Huron were down by the end of 2024 due to reaching the conclusion of the shared service agreement with Bluewater. He also made mention of the fact that the shared fire agreement with North Huron will have an increase of $35,993 from 2024 to 2025 and the Goderich fire agreement will increase this year over last by $37,230.
Boyes also included some information on the municipality’s emergency measures budget, despite the fact that nothing was spent in 2024. This is a shared service with Huron County connected to its emergency management co-ordinator (CEMC) and, with the departure of the former CEMC, that spending was put on hold for 2024, Boyes said.
The water operating budget for Central Huron is predicted to increase by 2.9 per cent in 2025, which includes a 2.5 per cent rate increase to be implemented in July.
Total wages and benefits in the department have increased 4.42 per cent over the 2024 budget and he noted that both reservoir cleaning and additional building maintenance for the water plant are planned for this year.
In the municipality’s sewer budget for 2025, a 5.8 per cent increase in expenses is anticipated, including a five per cent rate increase, also to be implemented this July.
There is a total wage and benefit increase in that department of 13.66 per cent over the 2024 budget and Boyes noted that lagoon maintenance is planned for this year.
The budget process will continue with a special meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 19 with departmental budgets for facilities and recreation; planning, drainage, economic development and community improvement; cemeteries; building department and other protective inspection; general government and council, and street lights.
The first presentation of the consolidated budget is planned for next month, with budget meetings planned for Tuesday, March 4 and Wednesday, March 19.