Hamilton Mountain Coun. Donna Skelly questioned whether the city should increase the funding it provides to the public library system, given the way that people use libraries has changed.
“When we were kids, we had to go to the library to do a research project,” she said. “I don’t think most kids even know how to research the library any more. They’re on Google.”
Skelly, who opened her comments during the 2017 tax supported budget discussion on Jan. 20, by saying they are “probably not politically correct,” questioned city finance officials about the need for a $518,770 increase to the library budget.
She said that “the library is near and dear to all of us,” but that any increase to the budget be based on the role the library plays in modern society and not the one it did 100 years ago. She ended her remarks by asking if the city should just tell the library that they have to live within its existing $29-million budget.
The Hamilton Public Library has 22 branches across the city and two bookmobiles.
But Stoney Creek Coun. Maria Pearson and Flamborough Coun. Judi Partridge defended the library’s operations and the impact it has throughout the community. Partridge, a library board member, said the branches in her area have seen a record number of people using the facilities.
Pearson, who has sat on the library board since 2003, said it has become one of the most efficient operations in the city.
Hamilton Public Library officials, along with other boards and agencies, will be making budget presentations to councillors on Jan. 24 and Jan. 26.
Skelly, along with the rest of the councillors, were absorbing a 2017 budget presentation that could — if approved today — increase taxes for the average homeowner between 2.7 per cent to 6.5 per cent depending upon where a person lives.
Although the proposed average budget increase has been reduced from 3.7 per cent to 3.2 per cent, due to reassessment, the average tax hike jumps to 4.4 per cent, said Mike Zegarac, general manager of corporate services.
“We are going to see varied experiences in tax increases,” he said.
Hamilton is seeing significant expenses for 2017, said Zegarac, totalling about $7.3 million. Those include $3.1 million in housing, $2.4 million for transit, and $1.3 million for Tim Hortons Field maintenance, which was ignored last year.
Employee related costs have jumped to $14.9 million, but a few councillors took issue with the staff overtime cost that has reached $900,000.
Ward 5 Coun. Chad Collins says politicians have in the past urged staff to crack down on overtime.
“The message is not being heard,” he said.
The city’s departments have proposed a 4 per cent increase, while boards and agencies are asking for a 2.6 per cent hike, including a 2.7 per cent increase to the police budget.
Ancaster Coun. Lloyd Ferguson focused again on Hamilton’s low assessment growth, which is one of the few ways the municipality can raise revenue.
He remained perplexed at how a municipality that continues to see $1 billion in building permits, receives an assessment growth of 1.6 per cent last year and in 2017, it is projected to be 0.6 per cent.
Zegarac said the majority of the growth is residential, while industrial and commercial growth is stagnant or declining.
“(Hamilton) is relying on residential growth,” he said. “It’s a challenge to grow industrial and commercial.”
Zegarac said if politicians want to get to their 2017 tax increase target of 1.8 per cent, they would need to cut $20.8 million from the budget or find a corresponding amount in new revenue.
Politicians did go behind closed doors to discuss possible cuts in staff, an option some councillors are considering as they seek ways to reduce taxes.
The 2016 average tax increase was 1.7 per cent, one of the lowest in Ontario for a large municipality.
“We have a lot of work before us,” said Mountain Coun. Tom Jackson.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story published online misrepresented comments made by Counc. Donna Skelly regarding the continued funding of Hamilton's public library system. Hamilton Community News regrets the error and apologizes to Counc. Skelly.
Hamilton Mountain Coun. Donna Skelly questioned whether the city should increase the funding it provides to the public library system, given the way that people use libraries has changed.
“When we were kids, we had to go to the library to do a research project,” she said. “I don’t think most kids even know how to research the library any more. They’re on Google.”
Skelly, who opened her comments during the 2017 tax supported budget discussion on Jan. 20, by saying they are “probably not politically correct,” questioned city finance officials about the need for a $518,770 increase to the library budget.
She said that “the library is near and dear to all of us,” but that any increase to the budget be based on the role the library plays in modern society and not the one it did 100 years ago. She ended her remarks by asking if the city should just tell the library that they have to live within its existing $29-million budget.
The Hamilton Public Library has 22 branches across the city and two bookmobiles.
But Stoney Creek Coun. Maria Pearson and Flamborough Coun. Judi Partridge defended the library’s operations and the impact it has throughout the community. Partridge, a library board member, said the branches in her area have seen a record number of people using the facilities.
Pearson, who has sat on the library board since 2003, said it has become one of the most efficient operations in the city.
Hamilton Public Library officials, along with other boards and agencies, will be making budget presentations to councillors on Jan. 24 and Jan. 26.
Skelly, along with the rest of the councillors, were absorbing a 2017 budget presentation that could — if approved today — increase taxes for the average homeowner between 2.7 per cent to 6.5 per cent depending upon where a person lives.
Although the proposed average budget increase has been reduced from 3.7 per cent to 3.2 per cent, due to reassessment, the average tax hike jumps to 4.4 per cent, said Mike Zegarac, general manager of corporate services.
“We are going to see varied experiences in tax increases,” he said.
Hamilton is seeing significant expenses for 2017, said Zegarac, totalling about $7.3 million. Those include $3.1 million in housing, $2.4 million for transit, and $1.3 million for Tim Hortons Field maintenance, which was ignored last year.
Employee related costs have jumped to $14.9 million, but a few councillors took issue with the staff overtime cost that has reached $900,000.
Ward 5 Coun. Chad Collins says politicians have in the past urged staff to crack down on overtime.
“The message is not being heard,” he said.
The city’s departments have proposed a 4 per cent increase, while boards and agencies are asking for a 2.6 per cent hike, including a 2.7 per cent increase to the police budget.
Ancaster Coun. Lloyd Ferguson focused again on Hamilton’s low assessment growth, which is one of the few ways the municipality can raise revenue.
He remained perplexed at how a municipality that continues to see $1 billion in building permits, receives an assessment growth of 1.6 per cent last year and in 2017, it is projected to be 0.6 per cent.
Zegarac said the majority of the growth is residential, while industrial and commercial growth is stagnant or declining.
“(Hamilton) is relying on residential growth,” he said. “It’s a challenge to grow industrial and commercial.”
Zegarac said if politicians want to get to their 2017 tax increase target of 1.8 per cent, they would need to cut $20.8 million from the budget or find a corresponding amount in new revenue.
Politicians did go behind closed doors to discuss possible cuts in staff, an option some councillors are considering as they seek ways to reduce taxes.
The 2016 average tax increase was 1.7 per cent, one of the lowest in Ontario for a large municipality.
“We have a lot of work before us,” said Mountain Coun. Tom Jackson.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story published online misrepresented comments made by Counc. Donna Skelly regarding the continued funding of Hamilton's public library system. Hamilton Community News regrets the error and apologizes to Counc. Skelly.
Hamilton Mountain Coun. Donna Skelly questioned whether the city should increase the funding it provides to the public library system, given the way that people use libraries has changed.
“When we were kids, we had to go to the library to do a research project,” she said. “I don’t think most kids even know how to research the library any more. They’re on Google.”
Skelly, who opened her comments during the 2017 tax supported budget discussion on Jan. 20, by saying they are “probably not politically correct,” questioned city finance officials about the need for a $518,770 increase to the library budget.
She said that “the library is near and dear to all of us,” but that any increase to the budget be based on the role the library plays in modern society and not the one it did 100 years ago. She ended her remarks by asking if the city should just tell the library that they have to live within its existing $29-million budget.
The Hamilton Public Library has 22 branches across the city and two bookmobiles.
But Stoney Creek Coun. Maria Pearson and Flamborough Coun. Judi Partridge defended the library’s operations and the impact it has throughout the community. Partridge, a library board member, said the branches in her area have seen a record number of people using the facilities.
Pearson, who has sat on the library board since 2003, said it has become one of the most efficient operations in the city.
Hamilton Public Library officials, along with other boards and agencies, will be making budget presentations to councillors on Jan. 24 and Jan. 26.
Skelly, along with the rest of the councillors, were absorbing a 2017 budget presentation that could — if approved today — increase taxes for the average homeowner between 2.7 per cent to 6.5 per cent depending upon where a person lives.
Although the proposed average budget increase has been reduced from 3.7 per cent to 3.2 per cent, due to reassessment, the average tax hike jumps to 4.4 per cent, said Mike Zegarac, general manager of corporate services.
“We are going to see varied experiences in tax increases,” he said.
Hamilton is seeing significant expenses for 2017, said Zegarac, totalling about $7.3 million. Those include $3.1 million in housing, $2.4 million for transit, and $1.3 million for Tim Hortons Field maintenance, which was ignored last year.
Employee related costs have jumped to $14.9 million, but a few councillors took issue with the staff overtime cost that has reached $900,000.
Ward 5 Coun. Chad Collins says politicians have in the past urged staff to crack down on overtime.
“The message is not being heard,” he said.
The city’s departments have proposed a 4 per cent increase, while boards and agencies are asking for a 2.6 per cent hike, including a 2.7 per cent increase to the police budget.
Ancaster Coun. Lloyd Ferguson focused again on Hamilton’s low assessment growth, which is one of the few ways the municipality can raise revenue.
He remained perplexed at how a municipality that continues to see $1 billion in building permits, receives an assessment growth of 1.6 per cent last year and in 2017, it is projected to be 0.6 per cent.
Zegarac said the majority of the growth is residential, while industrial and commercial growth is stagnant or declining.
“(Hamilton) is relying on residential growth,” he said. “It’s a challenge to grow industrial and commercial.”
Zegarac said if politicians want to get to their 2017 tax increase target of 1.8 per cent, they would need to cut $20.8 million from the budget or find a corresponding amount in new revenue.
Politicians did go behind closed doors to discuss possible cuts in staff, an option some councillors are considering as they seek ways to reduce taxes.
The 2016 average tax increase was 1.7 per cent, one of the lowest in Ontario for a large municipality.
“We have a lot of work before us,” said Mountain Coun. Tom Jackson.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story published online misrepresented comments made by Counc. Donna Skelly regarding the continued funding of Hamilton's public library system. Hamilton Community News regrets the error and apologizes to Counc. Skelly.