Budget Consultation '23

Tax increase is too much as we are all struggling with huge inflation on everything else. Most on fixed income and are having to cut things so maybe town should as well. Having to put money towards arena is disturbing as I am still looking to meet anyone who thought we need this. Town should have waited for government monies. River road w upgrades with sidewalks Needs to be a priority. It’s a safety issue.

I appreciate your asking for our feedback, although it is difficult to comment on whether the 6% increase is reasonable when the 2023 is incomplete and inaccurate. I need to know what the Town has actually spent for the year to comment. Also, it is difficult to comment on what part of the 2023 budget should be spent less on when a description of each Heading is not provided.

I do have two suggestions of value:
1) Open a Walk-in Clinic that is open 7 days a week, min. 8 hours. Going to Emergency as an option is expensive and inefficient. If cost is an issue, implement a small surcharge.
2) Make Mosley a three lane road with a center turn lane and bike lanes from 45th Street to River Rd, similar to what River Rd. was changed to. The four lane road is not efficient as there is no room for bicycles and traffic is constantly held up when cars make a left turn. This should also reduce speeding.

Casino revenues should only be used to pay down the Town’s debt.

It is going to be a rough year financially across the board. Core expenditures such as infrastructure, waste and water management, police and fire, transit and public works are all going to require an increase. At the same time, a quick look at the first draft seems to indicate that many non-core departments actually came in UNDER their 2022 budgets. I feel that these departments should be encouraged to take a look at their previous results and try to exist closer to their 2022 actuals. We don't want to choke out our "nice to haves" but a bit of belt tightening in non-essentials for a year or two, and some mindfulness of what the MPAC windfall might look like might put us closer in line with a 2.5% or so increase.

Not sure about what other residents will comment on but as a less then 2 year home owner in Wasaga Beach, I have questions. Likely fall mostly within the Development Services. First and foremost, plan for the beach
and cost impact, short and long term, secondly what cost impact the new arena and library will have on the community, $65, 75, 85 million? Tax increases should follow rate of inflation, not likely in our case, probably more like 10-15%.

Bay Sands Drive area should be serviced, owners will pay for development but the town should bring a contractor to start working on it.

As a revenue source it would be great to see more food and drink options available at the outdoor skating rink. Often kids walk to Tim's or other establishments. Perhaps the Youth centre grill team, a really good vending machine, or a selection of pre-packaged reasonably priced items would be scooped up by kids working hard on the ice.

Also, in the summer, more food options along the beach front, particularly beaches 2-6. I realize this is provincial land, but perhaps there is a collaboration that could occur to have mobile vendors along the beaches; food trucks, food carts, cold drinks and ice cream would all be welcomed by the thousands of visitors each summer. Its almost embarrassing to tell new visitors they have to leave the beach, fight traffic and long lines and risk losing access to the beach, all for a pizza or a hot dog. Many people bring food, but would also appreciate the option to purchase some items as well.

A concrete plan for water and sewer servicing of Wasaga Sands. Many homes are starting to replace aging infrastructure and pay some of the highest tax amounts outside of waterfront homes for no services. It would be helpful to know when the town plans (if ever) to service this island in the middle of town with no services.

Appropriate staffing levels for new library and arena. To ensure that this amazing building is used to its fullest potential. I hope that this has been considered in the planning for this project.

It would be nice if windrows from snow plows could be removed from senior residents driveways.

I would like to see tourism as a priority, perhaps a xmas market, and the time has come wgere being the lowest tax rate has caught up with us ..9% might be what we need this year

Infrastructure should be a priority as the town continues to grow at a rapid pace. Roads are a big one, a permanent Service Ontario office so we do not have to go out of town, attracting business to the area to expand the services available locally and the tax base.
The new houses in town should provide increased revenue for operations, tax increase of 3% should cover what is required.

It would be very interesting to many taxpayers to see exactly how much the town is spending to continue to clear blow-sand off the beach strip. Perhaps it should be a separate line item in the Public Works budget. It would put a number of minds at rest to set a cap on the annual expenditure for sand removal - when it is spent, it is spent whether that is in October or in July. The tiny, but exceptionally vocal, minority who cannot watch a sunset or see the lake but through a car window, may be surprised to note how much it costs.

Use [if any] casino revenue to reduce debt.
Focus on delivery of municipal services i.e. roads, snow removal, water & electricity.
No more vanity projects i.e. beach development, library/arena.
Development to driven by private sector not government.

Create a world class tourist destination at Beach 1 and 2 with open spaces, concert venues, maybe some rides, restaurants with good urban design.

Hire a good ecologist to defend protection of remaining woodlands, wetlands, ANSIs, watercourses and enhance natural areas. Reduce risks to hazards as well. An wildflower garden program sponsored by the Town would be nice.

Clean up the derelict properties - properties with multiple small cottages that have turned into slum housing on the Town's best real estate near the beach. Save money by not licencing businesses, in particular tourist accommodation, or licence all properties for standards. If tourist accommodation is licenced so should any rental property. Why are slumlords able to do anything they want? All should be treated equally.

Work with Ontario Parks to allow dog walking on the beach before noon. Also clean up the dirt (not sand) place on the beach that has turned the first few metres of the lake into a mud bath. It is not natural, not pleasant to walk or swim in, and not good for the environment...which is not good for residents or tourists using the beach.

Get a new official plan that provides for permanent protection of the environment (all remaining woodlands, wetlands, ANSIs, watercourses with minimum buffers of 10 m for woodlands and 30 m for hydrologic features). Diversify the tourism base by allowing short-term rentals within half to one kilometre of the beach, by responsible cottage owners as a secondary use.

In my opinion, the projects outlined in the "Draft 1" of the budget, clearly outlines what I feel are the important services (Public Works, Protection Services, Development Services) required for the Town of Wasaga. I feel that staffing revenue may be the only option that can be adjusted/amended, to meet acceptable tax increase for residents. Pardon my comparison, but in the 1990's, under Mayor Mel Lastman, the City of Toronto had a 10 year wage freeze for most City Workers (minus Emergency Medical Service- police, fire, ambulance). This helped keep the budget fair to residents, and taxes were kept at acceptable levels. I'm not sure how much there is in the 'reserve', but at some point, it may be time to access those funds. The 6% tax increase is too high, especially during these times when most people cannot afford to pay for day to day necessities (food, gas, shelter). Perhaps each department can review staffing needs/requirements, as this may be the only cuts that are feasible at this point in time. In the meantime, perhaps other options for possible revenue can be explored, without onus being on residents of Wasaga.

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More funds for mental health, more funds for indigenous communities, more funds for social housing, less funds for policing

1-3% increase

When the Consumer Price Index is projected to be 3.1%, then, a blended property tax increase of 6% is too high. No one is receiving a 6% increase, whether in the workforce or not. The town will need to find a way to maintain services without a 6% increase.

Thank you for your efforts in reopening beach drive.

With inflation at record levels, please only fund family friendly events, like fireworks if necessary, niche entertainment should not be funded by tax payer dollars.

We need more jobs to ensure locals have funds to pay rent or buy homes of their own. Nothing like a good paying job to tackle the affordability crisis.

No need for a tax increase as you will already be collecting higher taxes through mpac assessment increases.

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I support the library/arena project.
Hope there are no cuts to essential services.
Inflationary increase is needed. Hope inflation comes under control soon. Cannot suggest an appropriate figure.
While I do not support the casino, hope revenues are put to good use.