March 8th, 2023 - Regular Council
This meeting was a great start to the 2023-2024 budget process as we received funding requests from several of our community partners that cover various sectors, including policing, healthcare, environment, and economic development.
As the township has switched to a two year budget process, this will be our first of 2 budgets ratified during this term of council. This budget which is tentatively scheduled for ratification on March 29th. There will be a public ‘Open house’ on March 16th, from 4pm-7pm in which senior leadership staff at the township will be available for members of the public come and provide feedback BEFORE the budget is ratified. This is an incredibly important opportunity to have your voices heard and understand how the process works.
We heard from the following organizations requested Support in bold
Ontario Provincial Police (Orillia Detachment) $2,780,168
Severn Sound Environmental Association (SSEA) $134,740
Orillia and Area Physician Recruitment & Retention Committee $11,000
Barrie and Area Physician’s Recruitment (BAPR) I’m the appointed representative for this organiaztion on behalf of Oro-Medonte. $14,500
Lake Simcoe Regional Conservation Authority (LSRCA) $75,000
Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) $214,778
Oro-Medonte Chamber of Commerce & Tourism (OMCCT) $15,000 and in-kind donation of Municipal facilities
Orillia & Lake Country Tourism (OLCT). $20,000
Each of these organizations has partnered with the township in the past to supplement services and support our community. I highly recommend reading the agenda to get an understanding of what each of these organizations provide to us.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter, we have a long way to go in this budget process and this council is trying its best to get as much public input as possible.
On a secondary note, we as a council voted in favour of keeping the current dog tag system in place as a way to ensure that the costs associated with dog ownership (and the townships requirements as such) are kept with those who own dogs, rather than the general tax base. As a dog owner myself, I think it’s important that my decision to have a pet doesn’t impact my neighbours pocket books.
Yours in Service,
Dave