There was disappointment over a denied grant application and frustration over the heavy load of new provincial housing legislation at West 麻豆精选 council Tuesday (Mar. 26).
In 2023, the city applied for funding under the CMHC Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) with a plan to complete seven initiatives and increase housing supply over the next three years.
The draft 2024 budget includes three full-time (FTE) planning positions tied to the application, which was denied.
The FTEs are needed to help deal with the increased workload on staff from the provincial government鈥檚 housing initiatives.
鈥淚f these positions aren鈥檛 funded what it will mean is鈥� long-range staff will be pulled in鈥o supplement the current staff to try to get some of these things put in place,鈥� CAO Ron Mattiussi told council.
He said it would also slow down the city鈥檚 development process.
鈥淲e believe the positions are needed, they鈥檙e critical.鈥�
The options to fund the positions were to push the property tax increase from the current 6.85 to 7.76 per cent, or dip into surplus reserves.
鈥淚t means robbing Peter to pay Paul,鈥� Mattuissi said.
Council chose the second option.
鈥淭o increase that (taxes), I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 a good move, it鈥檚 not a proper move, it鈥檚 not right at this point in the budgetary process,鈥� said Mayor Gord Milsom.
The mayor was also disappointed over not receiving HAF funding.
鈥淧articularly as we are a young community with limited reserves,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e put a very good package together and we鈥檙e not supported.
The three positions are expected to cost the city an additional $377,145.
Council has yet to approve the budget and 6.85 per cent tax increase.
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