CENTRE WELLINGTON – Due to unfilled positions, tax receivables and additional tax revenue, the Township of Centre Wellington saw a 2021 year-end surplus of $1,085,442.
The surplus represents 3.82 per cent of the total tax supported operating budget for 2021. Other factors included software maintenance and support costs, interest and penalties revenue on outstanding taxes receivable and winter control expenditures that were less than anticipated.
According to a staff report, wages and benefits in the CAO and human resources department were not high in 2021 because the manager of human resources position was vacant during the first quarter, and the human resources generalist position, which is shared 50 per cent with Puslinch, remained unfilled until September.
Wages and benefits for financial services were also not significantly high because of the vacant position for the asset management technician position, which is shared 50 per cent with Mapleton.
“The pandemic had a significant impact on a number of divisions in 2021, most notably those within community services including parks and recreation, tourism, the Fergus Grand Theatre, and the Victoria Park seniors centre,” stated in the report.
“Conferences, seminars, and training expenditures throughout many township divisions were lower than budget expectations in light of the pandemic.”
The total COVID-19 reserve transfer of $596,916 to operations was less than the $790,000 that was anticipated in the 2021 budget.
Other significant positive variances include:
- Fire revenue from burn permits, rental, report preparation, and mutual aid agreements with surrounding municipalities exceeded budget
- Wages and benefits in the Fire division due to a retirement which resulted in the division not returning to full complement until January 2022
- Winter maintenance and snow clearing costs in the Public Works division were significantly less than budget in 2021 due to minimal snow or ice events in the first four months of 2021
- Expenditures for gravel resurfacing, due to a lack of weather events in the fall, were not required and the positive impacts of the pavement management program resulted in a reduction in pavement patching costs
- Revenues from cemetery activities were favourable
- Grading inspection revenue in the Planning division exceeded expectations
- Interest and penalties revenue from tax accounts in arrears were higher than anticipated
Staff is recommending council transfer the surplus to the general capital reserve. The decision will come at its Monday council meeting.
