Brock council receives budget process update

DAN CEARNS, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, for The Standard ­ BROCK: Brock Township councillors received an update on the township’s 2021 municipal budget process, at a meeting on Monday, January 11th.

The update was requested by Ward 3 Councillor Walter Schummer, during the Finance Committee portion of the meeting.

“The budget presentations will be based on departments, and we have a council draft sitting at a percentage somewhat higher than some members of council might like to see it at this point. I believe we are at just under seven and a half [percent] after growth. There are some mitigating factors in that number, which is part of the reason why our CAO wanted to have individual discussions with each department, so we can present what the issues are, and bring it all together towards the end of the month as a consolidated budget,” Treasurer Laura Barta told council members.

Timing wise, the treasurer said the budget is currently “a little bit ahead of schedule” and expects, it would be possible, for council to “have a budget passed by the end of this month.”

CAO Dean Hustwick explained what process staff will be following this week.

“Each department is meeting with committee chair[people] to review the departmental draft budget, where it stands at this point. We are going to be reviewing the financials, the types of challenges, and various priorities, [and] having a preliminary discussion with the deputy mayor, finance chair and committee chair to get a sense of their feeling on where we are currently at,” he explained.

By the end of the month, current treasurer Ms. Barta will be leaving the township to begin a new role.

“Our Treasurer Laura Barta is leaving, as she has accepted a new role as the Treasurer of Township of Scugog. Her last day with the Township is on January 29th, 2021,” Clerk Becky Jamieson confirmed, in an email to The Standard.

Ms. Barta is set to begin working with Scugog Township on February 1st.

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