The Corporation of the
Town of Milton
Consolidated

Council Chambers - Town Hall
150 Mary Street, Milton, ON L9T 6Z5

Monday, December 04, 2023 at 7:00 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.

Town Hall

150 Mary Street, Milton, ON L9T 6Z5

This meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting with Members of Council having the opportunity to participate in-person at Town Hall or electronically. Members of the public can view the meeting by watching the live stream or attend in-person.

Should you wish to delegate to a Council meeting please complete the online delegation form at https://forms.milton.ca/Community/Delegate-Request-Application by 12:00 p.m. (noon) two business days before the meeting is to be held.

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1.

MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION / O’ CANADA / TRADITIONAL LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

2.

AGENDA ANNOUNCEMENTS / AMENDMENTS

3.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & GENERAL NATURE THEREOF

4.

DELEGATIONS

4.1

Presentation Item #5.1

Subject: 2024 Capital and Operating Budget

Name: Marshall Horner

5.

PRESENTATIONS

5.1

2024 Capital and Operating Budget

Presenter: Glen Cowan, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, Corporate Services

• THAT a new capital project be added to the 2024 Budget for a Stop Sign Beacon Pilot Project, with a funding of $72,512 provided from the Studies and Other Non Growth Capital Reserve, and that the Pilot provide for the installation at one all way stop intersection per ward in 2024.

• THAT a Senior Transportation Planning Technologist (1.0 FTE) be added to the 2024 Operating Budget with funding from the tax levy of $155,055. 

• THAT a Platoon Chief (1.0 FTE) be added to the 2024 Operating Budget with funding from the tax levy of $186,723. 

• THAT the transfer from the Tax Stabilization Reserve to the 2024 Operating Budget be reduced by $750,000 with an equivalent increase in the net tax levy in order to fund the related on-going expenses.

• WHEREAS the proposed Town of Milton 2024 Property Tax Increase, when blended with the Regional Municipality of Halton and school boards’ 2024 operating budgets, will net out at 5.37 percent, if the Region and school boards’ budgets are approved, as is; 

  AND WHEREAS the proposed 2024 Town of Milton Property Tax Increase, when blended with the Regional Municipality of Halton, school boards and proposed Halton Regional Police Service’s operating budgets, could net out at about 5.78 percent if they are approved, as proposed; 

  AND WHEREAS Milton is in economic recession, interest rates are high, food inflation is continuing unabated and an increasing number of Miltonians are defaulting on their mortgages and not paying their property taxes;

  THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT in order to provide financial relief to hard-hit Milton families, the Town of Milton 2024 operating budget achieve a 5.0 percent blended property tax rate objective; 

  AND FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the $36 million purchased goods and services line items in the 2024 Town of Milton Operating Budget be reduced in order to achieve a 5 percent blended tax rate total (requiring an estimated reduction of $825,000 to $1,770,000 depending on the final budgets established for Halton Region and the Halton Regional Police Service).

• THAT staff be directed to prepare a report for Council that outlines alternatives for a multi-year financial strategy for the Town that can be used as a basis to guide future budget processes.

  AND THAT a Council Workshop to discuss the alternatives be held in advance of the presentation of the report to Council.

  AND THAT the staff report be presented to Council for consideration no later than June 2024.

  AND, FINALLY, that an annual financial workshop occur in June or July to discuss pertinent financial information as well as facilitate pre-budget discussions

• 1.  THAT the 2024 Capital Budget with a gross amount of $83,732,615 as outlined in Appendix 2 and the 2025-2033 Capital Forecast with a gross amount of $1,369,298,807 as outlined in Appendix 3 of this report be received for review and any amendments made by Council;

  2.  THAT in accordance with s.s. 5(1) of the Development Charges Act, 1997 and S. 5 of Ontario Regulation 82/98, it is Council’s clear intention that any eligible excess capacity provided by the 2024 Capital Program will be paid for by future development charges; 

  3.  THAT any donations, grants or subsidies applied in the 2024 capital program to projects with development charges funding are to offset the non-growth related costs of those projects unless otherwise specified;

  4a) THAT the 2024 Operating Budget for Town and Library resulting in a net tax levy of $98,923,879 assuming 2.29% net assessment growth, as outlined on Appendix 4 of this report save and except the portion of the Seniors Programs Salaries and Benefits, be received for review and any amendments made by Council;

  5.  THAT, if the actual net taxable assessment growth is different than 2.29%, any increase in the tax dollars generated from the Town portion of assessment growth for 2024 taxation be transferred to the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve or any decrease in tax dollars generated from the Town portion of assessment growth for 2024 taxation be funded from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve;

  6.  THAT the non-union salary range adjustment for 2024 be approved at a rate of 2.1%;

  7.  THAT the 2025-2026 operating forecast for the Town, including the Library, with a combined net increase in the tax levy of $27.1 million as outlined in Appendix 5 of this report (or as potentially revised) be received;

  8.  THAT the transfers to and from Reserves and Reserve Funds within the 2024 Budget as outlined in Appendix 6 (or as potentially revised) be received;

  9.  THAT the Milton BIA budget in the gross amount of $487,675 resulting in a net tax levy of $270,990, as outlined in Appendix 7, be received for review and any amendments made by Council.

  ^{*This recommendation varies from the recommendation contained in Staff Report CORS-057-23.}

• 4b)  THAT the 2024 Operating Budget for Seniors Programs Salaries and Benefits, in the amount of $39,512, be received for review and any amendments made by Council;

  ^{*This recommendation varies from the recommendation contained in Staff Report CORS-057-23.}

• THAT, for the purposes of the 2024 Budget, the 30-day period referred to in subsection (6) of Ontario Regulation 530/22 be shortened such that it is considered expired at the time of Council approval of this resolution on December 4, 2023.

6.

ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION

6.1

Ontario Regulation 284-09 – Report for 2024 Budget

• THAT the compliance report for the expenses excluded from the 2024 budget outlined in report CORS-057-23 be approved as a requirement of Ontario Regulation 284-09 passed under the Municipal Act, 2001.

7.

BY-LAWS

• THAT By-law Number 091-2023 be READ, PASSED AND NUMBERED;

  AND THAT the Mayor and the Town Clerk be authorized to sign the said By-law, seal it with the seal of the Corporation and that they be engrossed in the By-law Book.

7.1

091-2023 Confirm Proceedings By-law - December 4, 2023

BEING A BY-LAW TO CONFIRM THE PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF MILTON AT ITS MEETING HELD DECEMBER 4, 2023

8.

ADJOURNMENT