Bulletin - November 24, 2011

CHAIRPERSON                                                  

VISITORS

Visitors Sue Fisher and David McKellar were with us today.

GUESTS

Ove’s guest Josh Cormier and Pat’s guest Marita Webb also join us again this morning.

 MAKE-UPS

• Pam H. celebrated the Universal Day of the Child at River Hebert school.
• Membership and Breakfast committees met.
• Names should be submitted to Barb J.

BIRTHDAYS

No milestone this year, but Leslie still celebrates on the 28^th!  Have fun!

ANNIVERSARIES

None.

PIN PAL                                                     

None.

50/50 DRAW

Leslie drew Sandy’s ticket putting $10.00 in her pocket!  Great for their upcoming trip South.

HAPPY DOLLARS

Andy was very happy to throw in $5.00 because his son shot his first deer (6 pt!), his mother is home for a visit, and he just loves this snow!

Even though Sue P’s lights on the truck failed her, she still made it!

Ken is happy to have his basement completed…five stitches and one frozen thumb later…

Josh is happy to have a 98 Sunfire with snow tires and a neighbour with a plow!

Wynn was happy about being able to work at the next breakfast though he thought he may not due to daughter’s surgery and his need to be chauffeur in the meantime.

Dale is happy that Wynn will be working!

Trish announced a PSA regarding Mount Allison Choral Society’s concert on Saturday at 8pm @ the chapel.  Admission is a non-perishable food donation.

NEXT

 Guest Speaker: Charlie Scobie - The King James Bible

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Membership – Andy – Announced that five members have 100% attendance.

Breakfast – Dale – “Ready to go!” Tickets sales are good.

Christmas Party – Pam B – Invitations have been sent via email.  Please r.s.v.p. so the committee can plan accordingly.  Pay Barb J. in advance and send a piece of trivia about yourself to Pam B.

Foundation – Sandy – Informed us that from July to present day, we have contributed $3,404.40 for the Foundation.  Our year’s goal is $3,500.  Our recent auction brought in $2,132.50.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Club Administration to meet tonight at Wayne’s @ 7:15pm.

PRESIDENT’S TIME

President Ken reminded members that one month from today will be Christmas Eve and what better gift than our 80^th anniversary book available at Tidewater Books?  There are also lovely window decals and Rotary pins to purchase as stocking stuffers.

President Ken then asked Sue Fisher, Dave McKellar, Sandy, and Pam H. to the podium.  Sue Fisher then presented two cheques (one for Sackville Rotary and one for the Foundation) in the sum of $5,000 each from the estate of Maurice (aka Jake) Fisher.

Ken thanked Sue and Dave on behalf of the club, stating how honoured we are of these generous donations.  Ken gave Sue and Dave the History of Sackville Rotary book.

GUEST SPEAKER

Wayne introduced Michael Beal, Acting CAO for the Town of Sackville (4^th time) and their Treasurer as well.  Michael volunteers as a fire fighter in his spare time.

Michael thanked Sackville Rotary for having him.  Today Michael will be discussing budgets.

The Sackville budget is one that takes place each Fall; however, it is monitored, fluctuated, and changed throughout the year.  New things happen…

The requirements for the NB government is that it must be balanced.  No surplus or deficit or the expense is recorded (and taken away from) next year’s budget.  Budgets also need to be approved.

2012 Process

There are seven departments to review along with Water and Sewer.  First submission goes to Council.  This is considered the first draft and the public is considered.  Meet for 2-3 days then come up with second draft.  Sometimes there are several drafts.  Many factors contribute to this process such as taxes, grants, etc. with (hopefully) the final draft completed in December.

There are two sources of funds: General and Water & Sewer.  General funds include public works, police, fire, property tax (currently 153.50/$100 with no increase since 2004 which brings in $8,000,000 in revenue).  Water & Sewer is collected through Service NB.  Sackville receives $500,000+ in grant monies.

2012 will see a 3.77% increase to property taxes which represents $300,000 in revenue.  There are three categories of taxes: residential, commercial and institutional.

90% of the budget comes from tax, 5% from grants, and 5% from user fees and other small grants.

There are struggles each year.  We are accustomed to a certain level of main services, power rates have been going up which has increased the street lighting significantly ($150,000/yr).  The provincial property taxes are also on the rise.  There have been cuts to the planning commission and new insurances (e.g. fire fighters at $16,000/yr).  These costs are off set by tax increases with a cap of 3% to tax payers.  The goal is to acquire as much capital as possible without borrowing.  Fifteen years ago that cost was $200,000.  Today it falls between $700,000 and 1 million dollars (excluding special projects).

Our new Town Hall comes in a little higher than 12 million.  Sackville does not expect to increase taxes because of this new building as they will be renting to the RCMP at $200,000/yr.

Water & Sewer

 This includes Finance and Administration, Public Works and Engineering.  They operate independently but cooperatively.  The accounting for this is different – a no cost account.  Each department has its own budget.  Some monies are charged back to the General fund for such things as fire hydrants (a fire department expense).  Revenue for water taxes is helpful with Mount Allison being a huge contributor.  Debt payment cannot exceed 20% which can hinder.  Debt profile for 2011 was 9.43%.  When water rates go up – consumption usually goes down.  They need to look at ways to increase revenue.  No changes have been made to water tax rates since 2006.  Thirty percent of Sackville pay minimum water taxes.

Another defining contributor is the pension plan.  We are not the same as other provinces; however, this has not posed any concerns so far.  The $500,000 unconditional grant will probably disappear at some point.

Changes have been recommended for the municipalities to bring in more revenue but nothing has been done yet.  “If it doesn’t say we CAN do it, then we can’t do it.”

Sackville also receives a gas tax portion from the Federal government in the amount of $800,000 over the past five years.  There are three criteria to meet: water, air, and lower greenhouse emissions.

Disposing of the three existing buildings in order to build the new main one (new Town Hall) has been beneficial.  The expenses for all three of these are the same as the new facility.  Heating is 80% geo-thermal.  The Town anticipates no tax increases due to this new structure.

Our meeting adjourned with the stating of the 4-Way Test