While
the crisis over the capital budget deepens, Regional
Council is promising that it will lower taxes this
year by 3% by reducing the region's operating budget.
The environment, both natural and social, is scheduled
to pay the price.
The councillors have decided to impose an across-the-board
10% cut in funding to what are called "outside boards
and agencies".
These
include the four local conservation authorities, the
Royal Botanical Gardens, Confederation Park and Westfield
Heritage Centre, as well as the Hamilton and Wentworth
public libraries, the SPCA, and local arts and social
service agencies.
Funding
to the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority is to
be cut by $205,790. The HRCA has already lost over
$1 million in provincial cuts and this year has instituted
a $38 annual pass for walkers and cyclists on Authority-owned
lands like the Dundas Valley.
A
year ago, the Region persuaded the HRCA to take responsibility
for implementation of the Red Hill Valley Watershed
Plan. This has about 100 recommendations for improvements
to the watershed, but the Region did not want to make
specific funding promises. The new cuts to the HRCA
budget show clearly that the Region had no intention
of these plans ever proceeding.
The Royal Botanical Gardens will lose $81,460, while
Confederation Park will be cut by nearly $52,000.
The
Hamilton Public Library stands to lose $1,478,330
and the Wentworth Library $220,440.
Libraries
are generally restricted by provincial law from raising
funds from various user fees, so the 10% cut can only
be accomplished by such measures as reducing staff,
reducing library hours, buying fewer books and magazines,
etc.
The
Hamilton SPCA will lose $88,110, and grants to arts
and social service organizations will be reduced by
more than $275,000.
Note
also that the promised 3% tax cut is illusory, because
the Region has already decided to raise water and
sewer rates by over 10% this year.
