Dufferin County 2016 Draft Budget

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Oct 16, 2015 - THE NUMBERS Table 2B Year 2016 alone. 7. 2016. Preliminary .... a continuation of small (or zero) capital
Dufferin County 2016 Draft Budget 1. Strategic Approach, at a high-level

2. Fiscal Picture – 2016 to 2018 3. Scenarios for Council consideration

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Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget Part 1 From 2015 Waterloo Region budget presentation

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Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget Part 1 From 2015 Waterloo Region budget presentation

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Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget end of Part 1 • maintain current service levels

Identify the County’s Budget Goals for 2016

• stay within a range of “fiscal reality” • start to work towards dealing concretely with these two Strategic Plan objectives • 4.1 Close Infrastructure Gap (there are 4 parts to this) • 3.2.4 Develop a Long Term Financial Plan (an LTFP)

• both of these Strategic Plan objectives will take several years to accomplish

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Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget Part 1

Strategic Overview of the Budget

• for the last six Budgets, 2010-2015 inclusive, the Adopted Budget has seen • Total Tax Levy increase held to about 3% each year (exception 2013) • nearly all of that 3% has gone to Operations, nothing to Capital

• New property growth generally offsets around half of the 3%, leaving an impact on current taxpayers of less than 1.5%, which does not keep up with inflation • after 6 years of “flat-lining” Capital, a large project backlog now exists, that • will unavoidably continue to grow larger in the future • will take many years, and many Budgets, to deal with • address this situation within a Long Term Financial Plan (an LTFP)

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Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget THE NUMBERS

Table 2A

2010

Part 2

LOOKING BACK

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

$26.393 Adopted Tax Levy, in millions

$27.218

$28.075

$30.319

$31.354

$32.250

$ 0.751

Levy increase in $

$ 0.824

$ 0.857

$ 2.244

$ 1.035

$ 0.896

2.93%

Levy increase as %

3.12%

3.15%

7.99%

3.41%

2.86%

Comments

for Operations Budget

3.33%

2.67%

3.04%

1.66%

4.59%

for Capital Budget

-0.21%

0.48%

-3.60%

2.90%

1.32%

* Year 2013 is not comparable to other years because of the upload of Waste Services function, from local municip. • there was also an offsetting reduction in 2013 benefitting all Local municipal budgets • a new recycling revenue was added in 2014

8.55% *

-2.80% * 1.65%

-1.59%

The net 2.86% in 2015 is AFTER the 1.46% “savings-to-find”

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for Waste Services transfer for Headwaters donation for “savings to find”

Levy increase as a %

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

-1.46%

3.12%

3.15%

7.99%

3.41%

2.86%

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1.46%

Came from New property growth

1.35%

1.25%

0.72%

1.67%

2.21%

1.47%

Came from current taxpayers

1.77%

1.90%

7.27% *

1.74%

0.65%

Ontario C.P.I. was

3.09%

1.42%

0.98%

2.36%

1.50%

Operations increase “savings” added late

4.59% - 1.46% 3.13% Capital increase 1.32% Re-direct Hosp. amount -1.59% 2.86% Nearly all of the 2015 increase went to Operations. NOTE the 2015 Net Increase of 896,000 was really 1,396,000 of increases MINUS the 500,000 hospital amount removed.

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Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget Part 2 THE NUMBERS

Table 2B

Year 2016 alone

2016 Preliminary Draft

2015 Adopted

Tax Increase

Increase as a %

Operations Budget

$ 28,363,096

$27,349,218

$1,013,878

3.71%

Capital Budget

$ 7,456,150 _________

Total Tax Levy

$35,819,246

$ 4,901,027 _________ $32,250,245

$ 2,555,123 _________ $ 3,569,001

52.13%

11.07%

Comments Operations increase ($1 million) is similar to what has been experienced in recent years. This is possible because there are very few Service Enhancements in the 2016 numbers.

3.14% Capital increase ($2.55 million) is a reflection of the capital project backlog, or the Infrastructure Gap, which has been building up since 2009. This is the 7.93% requirement strictly from the perspective of ______ good asset management not a fiscal reality.

NEXT SLIDE gives an important perspective, 11.07% a longer-term view, adding 2017 and 2018 draft capital budgets.

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Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget THE NUMBERS

Table 2C

2015 $32.250

County Tax Levy, in millions

$ 27.807

for net Operations Budget

$ - 0.458

for “savings to be found”

$ 4.901

for net Capital Budget

2.86%

Levy increase as a %

Part 2

MULTI-YEAR BUDGETS 2016

2017

2018

2019

$35.819

$42.915

$41.328

$40.371

$ 28.363

$ 29.217

$ 30.060

$ 30.889

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

$ 7.456

$ 13.698

$ 11.268

$ 9.492

11.07%

19.81%

-3.70%

-2.32%

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2.21%

from New property growth

2.00%

1.80%

1.75%

1.75%

0.65%

from current taxpayers

9.07%

18.01%

-5.45% *

-4.07%

These years are forecasts only

For average residential property assessed at $338,000, a 9% increase in 2016 County tax = $118.07 Tax Levy for 2015 (in millions) was

$32.250

Draft 2016 increase for net Operations

1.014

Draft 2016 increase for capital projects

2.555

Draft Tax Levy for 2016, in millions

$35.819

Levy increase of $3.569 million, or 11%

Comments Preliminary draft budget for 2016 is up by 11%. Expecting about 2% growth, leaving a Taxpayer impact of 9%

Capital levy for 2016 is up by over 50% from the approved 2015 amount. AND Another large increase is coming in the capital levy for 2017, because of a single large road project, followed by slightly lower capital amounts in 2018 and 2019 (but still much higher than 2016). Preliminary Draft capital budgets are based on the preferred timing of various projects, not based on when they are “affordable”. Without a LTFP there are greater swings in proposed capital expenditures.

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Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget

Part 2

THE NUMBERS Table 2D focus on OPERATIONS Year

OPER Tax Levy

Levy Increase

as a %

2011

$ 22,733,900

$ 880,085

4.027%

2012

$ 23,460,480

$ 726,580

3.196%

2013

$ 26,714,060

$3,253,580 a

13.868%

2014

$ 26,867,900

$ 153,840 b

0.576%

2015#

$ 27,349,218

$ 481,318

1.791%

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2016

$ 28,363,096

$1,013,878

3.707%

2017

$ 29,216,996

$ 853,900

3.011%

2018

$ 30,060,270

$ 843,274

2.886%

Comments a - Year 2013 (in red) is not comparable to other years because of the upload of Waste Services function ($2.4 million, net) from the local municipalities. 2013 Increase = $2.4 million re upload + $853,580 = $3,253,580 b – 2014 increase includes a $503,840 (or 1.9%) basic increase, minus $850,000 new recycling revenue plus $500,000 one-time donation to Hospital = $153,840 net, abnormally low amount # - 2015 was reduced by the savings-to-be-found $458K Future Draft Operating Budgets, as you would expect, are fairly consistent, requiring annual increases of about 3.0% or about $0.9 million; this amount alone (excluding any consideration of the Capital Budget) is MORE than the expected annual new property assessment growth of 2% will cover (about $650,000) Significant and sustainable reductions in operating costs can only be achieved through service level review.

NEXT… a look behind the 2016 Operations numbers

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Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget

Part 2

Table 2D-1 Details of 2016 Operations increase of $1,013,878 Levy Change 1

Waste Service contracts, collection, diversion & yard waste

$174,950

2

Paramedic contract increase ($200,000), net of 50% subsidy

$ 100,000

3

Housing : Dynes-Grey building

$ 88,146

4a

Housing: decrease in Federal subsidy for non-profits & co-ops

$171,034

4b

Housing: withdrawal from reserve to partly offset subsidy lost

$ -90,000

5

Planning function, net of reserve withdrawal

$ 74,400

6

Child Care, reduced reliance, from 200,000 to 125,000

$ 75,000

7a

Decline in Ontario Works admin subsidies

$ 97,914

7b

Offset OW subsidy loss partially by withdrawal from reserve

$-50,000

8

Public Works SAR debt, reduced to only a half-year, net

$-146,580

9

All other areas, from various amounts less than $50,000

$416,474

just 1.523% of net 2015 Operations, includes all staff costs

10

Service Enhancements in 3 areas, in total

$102,540

just 0.375% of net 2015 Operations

Total Operations Budget increase over 2015

$1,013,878

Household count up, plus inflation adj. HHC Contract cost up 3.5% Incr. Service

2015 Budget had only a half-year for loan interest (loan correction was in the 1.5% savings found within 2015), also gas, hydro, insurance up

reserve Function downloaded from province reserve

Keep the reserve from becoming too small

reserve Final half-year, savings repeated in 2017

3.71%

kept under 4% by using reserve withdrawals

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Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget THE NUMBERS Year

CAPITAL Tax Levy

Part 2

Table 2E focus on CAPITAL SUPPORT Capital Levy Change

as a % of Capital Levy

2011

$ 4,484,100

$ - 55,900

-1.231%

2012

$ 4,614,950

$ 130,850

2.918%

2013

$ 3,605,150

$-1,009,800

-21.881%

2014

$ 4,485,860

$ 880,710

24.429%

2015#

$ 4,901,027

$ 415,167

9.255%

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2016

$ 7,456,150

$ 2,555,123

52.134%

2017

$13,698,550

$ 6,242,400

83.721%

2018

$ 11,267,650

$-2,430,900

Comments Year 2013 (in red) is not comparable to other years, because of the cuts to capital, in response to the shift of Waste Services function from local municipalities. The 2009 Capital Levy was $4.722 million, so the 2015 Levy of $4.9 million was only 3.77% above where it had been 6 years before. In addition, the Capital Levy took a one-time big drop in 2013 (in red). This multi-year period, with almost no increases, results in a Project Backlog, which leads to either: • several major tax-levy increases in 2016 & beyond, to “catch-up” OR • a continuation of small (or zero) capital increases, and an ever-growing backlog NEXT…a look behind the 2016 Capital numbers 11

Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget Table 2E-1

Part 2

Details of additional $2,555,123 in capital work Levy Change PW Capital Levy would go from $3.89 M in 2015 to $6.12 M in 2016 and for every year after 2016 it would be at least $8 M. • for 2016, this covers about 18 km. of roads being done • $1.8 million increase is being caused by $880,000 more spending, PLUS $924,000 lower non-tax revenues (especially Gas Tax)

1

Public Works, road projects

2

Public Works, structure projects

$ 295,423

One project was submitted for OCIF subsidy review

3

Public Works, other projects

$ 136,200

Salt-loading building, rail-trail expenses, etc.

4

Waste Management (1 project)

$100,000

5

Dufferin Oaks

$ 82,500

6

Social Housing

$ 68,000

7

All others combined

$ 68,500 Includes projects for DCMA, Paramedics, Facilities, Info. Tech., Forest

Total net Capital Budget increase over 2015

$1,804,500

$2,555,123

Storage building

due to reduced Federal subsidy support

adds 7.93% increase on the total levy

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Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget

Part 2

County net tax levy since 2010 2010

$4.540

2011

$4.484

2012

$4.615

2013

$21.854 $22.734 $23.460

$3.605

2014

$26.714

$4.486

2015

$26.368

$4.901

2016 draft

$27.349 $7.456

$-

$5

$28.363 $10

$15

$20

$25

$30

$ in Millions

Hospital

Capital Levy

Oper Levy 13

Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget end Part 2 THE NUMBERS

Table 2F

MULTI-YEAR SUMMARY

Year

OPER Tax Levy

CAPITAL Levy

2011

$ 22,733,900

$ 4,484,100

$ 27,218,000 $ 824,185

3.122%

Comments

2012

$ 23,460,480

$ 4,614,950

$ 28,075,430 $ 857,430

3.150%

2013

$ 26,714,060

$ 3,605,150

$ 30,319,210 $2,243,780

7.992%

Year 2013 (in red) is not comparable to other years because of the shift of Waste Services function from the local municip.

2014

$ 26,867,900

$ 4,485,860

$ 31,353,760 $1,034,550

3.412%

2015

$ 27,349,218

$ 4,901,027

$ 32,250,245 $ 896,485

2.859%

TAX LEVY

Increase

as a %

Approved Tax Levy increases have been consistently set at about 3% in recent yrs., with assessment Growth covering-off at least half of that

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2016

$ 28,363,096

$ 7,456,150

$ 35,819,246

$ 3,569,001

11.067%

2017

$ 29,216,996

$13,698,550

$ 42,915,546

$ 7,096,300

19.811%

2018

$ 30,060,270

$11,267,650

$ 41,327,920

$-1,587,626

 The first draft of 2016 and 2017 budgets shows a net Tax Levy increase of about 31% over the next two years. This is what would be necessary to deal with the infrastructure deficit. 14

Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget Part 3 Scenarios for consideration to balance addressing the capital backlog while facing the fiscal reality • Status Quo • Dedicated Levy (three examples) for Capital • Rate-Freeze Whatever Scenario is chosen, LTFP-approach would mean considering whether the chosen Scenario should be applied Long-Term, or at least for 3 remaining budgets in the Council term 2016, 2017 and 2018 15

Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget Part 3 THE NUMBERS Year

OPER Tax Levy

Table 3A STATUS QUO Scenario CAPITAL Levy

TAX LEVY

Increase

as a %

2015

$ 27,349,218

$ 4,901,027

$ 32,250,245 $ 896,485

2.859%

2016

$ 28,350,245

$ 4,900,000

$ 33,250,245 $1,000,000

3.101%

2017

$ 29,250,245

$ 5,000,000

$ 34,250,245 $1,000,000

3.007%

2018

$ 30,060,245

$ 5,190,000

$ 35,250,245 $1,000,000

2.920%

3 yr capital

$15,090,000

Comments Red numbers are if this Scenario applies Approved Tax Levy increase continues to be limited to about 3%, or roughly $1.0 million, with Growth hopefully covering-off about half (or more) of that, leaving a current taxpayer impact of 1.5%, or less than the rate of CPI. These figures will result in multiple capital projects in the 2016-2018 period, worth $17.33 million, being deferred to 2019 and beyond.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2016

$ 28,363,096

$ 7,456,150

$ 35,819,246

$ 3,569,001

11.066%

2017

$ 29,216,996

$13,698,550

$ 42,915,546

$ 7,096,300

19.811%

2018

$ 30,060,270

$11,267,650

$ 41,327,920

$-1,587,626

3 yr capital

 first draft of 2016 – 2018 based on addressing project needs with no longer term financial strategy in place.

$32,422,350

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Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget Part 3 THE NUMBERS Year

2015

OPER Tax Levy

$ 27,349,218

Table 3B-v1 Dedicated Levy of 1% Scenario CAPITAL Levy

$ 4,901,027

TAX LEVY

Increase

$ 32,250,245 $ 896,485

as a %

Red numbers are if this Scenario applies 2.859%

2016

$ 28,350,245

$ 5,190,000

$ 33,540,245 $1,290,000

4.000%

2017

$ 29,250,245

$ 5,631,600

$ 34,881,845 $1,341,600

4.000%

2018

$ 30,060,245

$ 6,216,900

$ 36,277,145 $1,395,300

4.000%

3 yr capital

$17,038,500

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2016

$ 28,363,096

$ 7,456,150

$ 35,819,246

$ 3,569,001

11.066%

2017

$ 29,216,996

$13,698,550

$ 42,915,546

$ 7,096,300

19.811%

2018

$ 30,060,270

$11,267,650

$ 41,327,920

$-1,587,626

3 yr capital

$32,422,350

Comments These figures reflect about 3% annual increase for Operations plus an extra 1% for building capital project support, gradually. Should growth be about 2% each year, then the impact to current taxpayers would be about 2% per year or $26 on average house About $15.38 million of 2016-2018 capital projects would be deferred until 2019 or later

 first draft of 2016 – 2018 based on addressing project needs with no longer term financial strategy in place.

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Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget THE NUMBERS Year

2015

Part 3

Table 3B-v2 Dedicated Levy of 2% Scenario

OPER Tax Levy

$ 27,349,218

CAPITAL Levy

$ 4,901,027

TAX LEVY

Increase

$ 32,250,245 $ 896,485

as a %

Red numbers are if this Scenario applies 2.859%

2016

$ 28,350,245

$ 5,512,500

$ 33,862,745 $1,612,500

5.000%

2017

$ 29,250,245

$ 6,305,600

$ 35,555,845 $1,693,100

5.000%

2018

$ 30,060,245

$ 7,273,400

$ 37,333,645 $1,777,800

5.000%

3 yr capital

$19,091,500

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2016

$ 28,363,096

$ 7,456,150

$ 35,819,246

$ 3,569,001

11.066%

2017

$ 29,216,996

$13,698,550

$ 42,915,546

$ 7,096,300

19.811%

2018

$ 30,060,270

$11,267,650

$ 41,327,920

$-1,587,626

3 yr capital

$32,422,350

Comments These figures reflect about 3% annual increase for Operations plus an extra 2% for building capital project support, gradually.

Should growth be about 2% each year, then the impact to current taxpayers would be about 3% per year or $39 on average house About $13.33 million of 2016-2018 capital projects would be deferred until 2019 or later

 first draft of 2016 – 2018 based on addressing project needs with no longer term financial strategy in place.

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Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget THE NUMBERS Year

2015

Part 3

Table 3B-v3 Dedicated Levy of 3% Scenario

OPER Tax Levy

$ 27,349,218

CAPITAL Levy

$ 4,901,027

TAX LEVY

Increase

$ 32,250,245 $ 896,485

as a %

Red numbers are if this Scenario applies 2.859%

2016

$ 28,350,245

$ 5,835,000

$ 34,185,245 $1,935,000

6.000%

2017

$ 29,250,245

$ 6,986,100

$ 36,236,345 $2,051,100

6.000%

2018

$ 30,060,245

$ 8,350,300

$ 38,410,545 $2,174,200

6.000%

3 yr capital

$21,171,400

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2016

$ 28,363,096

$ 7,456,150

$ 35,819,246

$ 3,569,001

11.066%

2017

$ 29,216,996

$13,698,550

$ 42,915,546

$ 7,096,300

19.811%

2018

$ 30,060,270

$11,267,650

$ 41,327,920

$-1,587,626

3 yr capital

$32,422,350

Comments These figures reflect about 3% annual increase for Operations plus an extra 3% for building capital project support, gradually. Should growth be about 2% each year, then the impact to current taxpayers would be about 4% per year or $52 on average house About $11.25 million of 2016-2018 capital projects would be deferred until 2019 or later ( 32,422,350 – 21,171,400) = 11,250,950

 first draft of 2016 – 2018 based on addressing project needs with no longer term financial strategy in place. 19

Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget THE NUMBERS Year

OPER Tax Levy

Part 3

Table 3C TAX-RATE FREEZE Scenario CAPITAL Levy

TAX LEVY

Increase

as a %

2015

$ 27,349,218

$ 4,901,027

$ 32,250,245 $ 896,485

2.859%

2016

$ 28,350,245

$ 5,512,500

$ 33,862,745 $1,612,500

5.000%

2017

$ 29,250,245

$ 6,305,600

$ 35,555,845 $1,693,100

5.000%

2018

$ 30,060,245

$ 7,273,400

$ 37,333,645 $1,777,800

5.000%

3 yr capital

$19,091,500

Comments Rate-Freeze scenario will grow the tax levy each year by the combined total of • the new property growth PLUS • change in market-value of assessments

In 2016, we know this amount will be close to 5%. So, this scenario has the same result as the 2% dedicated levy scenario on 3B-v2 slide.

2016

$ 28,363,096

$ 7,456,150

$ 35,819,246

$ 3,569,001

11.066%

For 2017 and beyond, we would need to wait for the Re-Assessment figures from MPAC, to know the change in market-values.

2017

$ 29,216,996

$13,698,550

$ 42,915,546

$ 7,096,300

19.811%

Levy increases might exceed 5% if market values show more of an increase than the last re-asmt. (2012) did.

2018

$ 30,060,270

$11,267,650

$ 41,327,920

$-1,587,626

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3 yr capital

$32,422,350

Capital Projects in the 2016-2018 period worth $13.33 million would be deferred to 2019 and beyond 20

Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget Part 3 Overall Budget (preliminary draft) Status

Tax Impact Current budget

Beginning

$1,013,878 Oper.

County net Operations budget increase

Capital Financing, if limited to a 2% dedicated levy

$

645,000

Capital Financing excess amount, per projects listed

$1,910,123

Subtotal = Tax Levy increase Less: expectation for assessment growth (2.0%) Net County tax impact

$2,555,123 Capital $3,569,001 -645,000 $2,924,001

Ending, 2% scenario

3.14%

3.00%

2.00%

2.00%

5.93% 11.07% -2.00% 9.07%

5.00% -2.00% 3.00%

To achieve the 2% capital-levy scenario above, the Draft 2016 (net) capital budget must be reduced by $1,910,123. The resulting Tax Impact of 3% would be approx. $39 per household. 21

Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget end of Part 3 Others have already taken action… Examples of existing Dedicated Capital Levies • City of Brampton •

2015 increase was 5.79% including 2.00% for capital purposes

• Township of Oro-Medonte (Simcoe County) •

2015 increase was 6.62% including 1.98% for capital purposes

• City of Mississauga •

adding extra 2% per year to annual tax increase

22

Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget Measuring the Capital Asset GAP 35,000,000

from the 10-year Capital Plan

32,422,350

Status Quo almost no increase

30,000,000

1% cap levy 4% total levy 2% cap levy 5% total levy

25,000,000

4% cap levy 7% total levy 21,154,700

20,000,000

23,278,268 19,091,500 17,038,500

15,000,000

15,090,000

10,000,000 7,456,150

5,000,000 0

2016

2017

2018 23

Dufferin County

Draft 2016 Budget

Review of the various Scenarios / Options over three years 2016-2018 remaining in Council term

Capital Levy 2016-2018 (3 years) combined under this scenario

A

Status Quo

1% Capital Levy

2% Capital Levy

3% Capital Levy

$ 15,090,000

$ 17,038,500

$ 19,091,500

$ 21,171,400

$ 1,948,500

$ 4,001,500

$ 6,081,400

Difference from Status Quo (over 3 years) Draft Capital Budget tax levy for 2016-2018, as prepared by staff

B

$ 32,422,350

$ 32,422,350

$ 32,422,350

$ 32,422,350

Work that should be done, as recommended by staff

Projects in Draft Budget that will be deferred to 2019 or later

A-B

$ -17,332,350

$ -15,383,850

$ -13,330,850

$ -11,250,950

Deferred projects

Up less than 1% over 2014

COUNTY TAX per household, year 2015

$1,311

$1,311

$1,311

$1,311

Impact of Capital Levy to a household

0

$ 13

$ 26

$ 39

repeated each year

$13

$ 13

$ 13

$ 13

Net 1% impact could vary if growth is not exactly 2%

$1,324

$ 1,337

$ 1,350

$ 1,363

Impact of Operations, minus new growth (assumed 3% - 2% per year) for 2016 COUNTY TAX per household for 2016

24

Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget Staff is seeking direction with respect to presentation of the Draft Budget documents which will be distributed and discussed by Council at upcoming meetings. The following options are provided for consideration: • Option 1 – Distribute Draft Budget as-is, with 11.07% levy increase resulting in a net impact to current tax payers of 9.07% or $118 on average house • Option 2 – Staff to reduce capital project proposals, to reflect a historical budget increase of approximately 1.5% to current tax payers

• Option 3 – Staff to reduce capital project proposals, to reflect implementation of dedicated annual capital levy of __x_% • Option 4 – Staff to reduce capital project proposals, to incorporate rate freeze strategy, which would generate approximately 2% additional funding for capital. 25

Dufferin County Draft 2016 Budget Suggested Process from here Dates

Objectives to be achieved

October 16, 2015

Draft budget completed, based on Council direction from Oct. 8th. Budget documents distributed to Council and available to public on County website.

October 2015 Committees

Department budget presentations. Have a closer look at specific departments, and put some potential budget changes on the table for discussion, and reach consensus on those changes that “make the grade”, to be sent to County Council

November 2015 County Council

2nd Budget Workshop, discuss those specific ideas brought forward from Committees, further amend the budget for any new info that might have arisen, and get a consensus from Council on how much more they want the budget changed, before it is finalized. Discussion should include ways of addressing, in 2016, the Strategic Plan points of • Closing the Infrastructure Gap • Developing Long Term Financial Plan

December 2015 County Council (if necessary)

3rd Budget Workshop, additional amendments, finalize the 2016 Tax Levy amount

January 2016 County Council

Adopt the Estimates Bylaw, a.k.a. the Budget Bylaw, setting the 2016 Tax Levy, as previously finalized by Council (in Nov. or Dec.)

February 2016 County Council

Last Step - Adopt the Tax Rate and the Tax Ratio Bylaws for 2016 26