Lake of Bays CAO/treasurer Don Chevalier told  members of the township’s finance and corporate services committee that a proposed levy increase of 9.5 per cent will be needed to meet the municipality’s spending needs in the proposed 2008 budget.

The draft capital budget was discussed at a special meeting of the committee last week following a meeting earlier in the month to review the township’s proposed 2008 operations budget.

The 9.5 per cent increase would generate $259,507 for a total capital expenditure of $3,270,217. Projected 2008 capital revenues for the township total $2,320,968, including an $841,000 grant from the province for road and bridge work.

During a later interview, Chevalier explained that capital revenue comes from reserves, the park fund and senior levels of government.

The roads slated to use this additional funding for improvements include Ril Lake Rd. S., Carl Fisher Drive, Buck Island Road, Delbrooke Rd., Osbourne Pt. Rd., Fieldale Rd., W. Camp Lake Rd., Old Hwy. 117 and Dwight Beach Rd.

Improvements to Dwight Beach Rd. would accommodate the cycling section of the Muskoka Ironman 70.3 triathlon in September.

The township’s draft operation budget lists total expenditures of $4,530,788, with a net levy of $689,742. These expenditures include a public works budget of $1,559,194. Operation revenues are listed as $5,220,530, up from $4,859,270 in 2007.

Proposed municipal initiatives for 2008 not appearing in the draft budget include new financial software, an update of the town’s strategic plan and a human resources review for township staff described by Chevalier as long overdue. The review would cover pay equity, a classification and compensation study, and develop a job evaluation system and succession plan.

Also not included in the budget are the addition of a development services clerk and a part-time recreation programmer to township staff.

Chevalier said the position of development services clerk was created in response to public complaints about the amount of time needed to process a planning/building application, and the complicated development permit process.

“As a result of these problems, the majority of the public and their agents need more time with staff to fill out their applications,” said Chevalier. “To ensure more efficient service delivery, we might consider increasing the staff complement in the planning department.”

Salary increases for Lake of Bays librarians are included in the budget. The pay rates, which were adjusted in September 2007, reflect librarians’ expanding duties and longer work hours. As a result, librarians will not continue to offer recreational programs in the community.

“At the last library board meeting, the directors said they would like their staff to focus more on library responsibilities and less on recreation,” explained Chevalier. “The impact of that was a pay equity discrepancy of $25,000 to the library staff. Pay equity was done in 1991 and their comparator was an equipment operator. I think the librarians’ roles have exceeded that status, and as a result of discussion with the library board, we have added increments translated into $25,000 for 12 months’ salary.”

Librarians’ withdrawal from recreation programs created the opening for a part-time recreational programmer.

Changes in government funding revenues in the draft budget include an increase of $13,000 for public works from the District of Muskoka, a $242,800 grant from the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund for administration, and a $1.35 million Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative (MIII) grant for improvements to the Baysville arena and library.

The project includes upgrading the arena’s refrigeration system, a new concrete pad for ice, gender-specific change rooms, an upstairs community room for Baysville's after- school program, and expansion of the library.

The committee is expected to meet again on May 6 at 9 a.m. for further discussions.