Budget Consultation '23

The road on the west end of Shore Lane is in desperate need of repair and is becoming increasingly hazardous. In fact I believe there are many basic infrastructure repairs needed through the community. I believe our focus should be on providing basic services to our taxpayers and not on new projects at this time. Our municipality needs to be a lean machine instead of just upping taxes. I think the focus should be on efficiencies so that a tax increase is not required. Increasing taxes at this time will hurt many in the community that are already struggling with increased daily living costs. Go back to basics at least through this recessionary period.

It's inevitable we will see a sizeable tax increase this year. The Arena/Library is a big ticket item without any grant funding, and specific infrastructure projects that were delayed/deferred must get done in 2023. Inflationary impact is also huge and staff resources need to rebuilt.
The key though is to effectively explain, in layman's terms, why this is needed.
The communications so far put out by the Treasurer are not clear enough and don't present the case very well. It's a jumble of 8 pages of commentary that loses its impact.
It needs to be presented in a simple format, point form, under clear categories and clear rationale.
Taxpayers won't be happy and there will be backlash, but with clarity of rationale it will be more accepting and not misunderstood.

1. I think that any tax increase should be similar to each of the last 4 yrs....a lot was achieved in that time.
2. I think that monies from the casino should go towards bigger medical clinic with real doctors being Doctors ,and not having to spend so much time on paperwork ,hire office people to do the paperwork.. They would love that.
3.I am thankful, being at the west end, that I can now use the Stayner library.
4. the east end of town needs another grocery store.
4. I think beach 1 should be left alone, take out the old buildings, have food and drink services and let people use the beach.

Our infrastructure is a mess, we have a 60 million dollar skating rink emptying traffic onto a two lane road with ditches for drainage. I can't remember when we did not have traffic tied up for some repair or other on River Rd. W. WE always put the cart before the horse

In a recession, a 1-2% increase maximum (especially with the new revenue expected from exponential growth in residential units and the casino). I believe the town should be investing money in residential services and the many wants within the community (roads widened, parks in the west end, etc...) and NOT services that should be provided by other levels of government (walk-in clinics and a high school are just two examples) - now is not the time to double tax residents of Wasaga Beach! A few might think the town is responsible for tourism and arranging and paying for huge events - leave that to the business community!

When times get tough, as they will for many, the town must set an example and reign in their planned spending, to ensure as many as possible are able to keep up with their home and business taxes.

I think the town needs to make drainage a priority in the Allenwood Beach area. Roads that were built years ago blocked the natural drainage into the bay and nothing has been done since. It is bad for six months of the year and in the spring the water nearly comes over the road in some places.

When the financing obligations of the new Twin Pad Arena w/Library put significant pressure on the 2023 budget as per the town treasurer, then, it seems to me that it comes down to what we can afford. A blended tax increase of 6% isn't acceptable.

Where in the budget is money for our drop in clinic. As per Our Mayors words it will be back, Because of our increased population and lack of doctors a clinic is extremely important. If anyone has been to the emergency department in Collingwood it is so backlogged you will not likely see a doctor for 7-8 hours if you are lucky. A year round clinic should be a high priority. Much smaller towns have clinics or mini emergency drop ins. We need to start looking after our own and free up the hospital for real emergencies, not to be used like a doctors office.

Removed by moderator.

Wasaga Beach has many senior residents who want to remain in our beautiful town when the time comes that they cannot maintain their homes. We only have one retirement choice - "Waterside" on Zoo Park Rd. Many people have to uproot and leave our town to communities like Collingwood or Barrie who offer multiple choices. Wasaga Beach has a serious lack of senior retirement accommodations. These people paid their property taxes for most of their lives and are neglected, this is always the case. The town needs to build more senior homes. Instead $$ millions were spent on the twin pad arena/library complex. Give us more in town choices to stay in the place we all love. An acceptable tax increase based on my study of my tax bill from 2015 to 2022 would be 2.2%

NO tax increase is acceptable. If council truly believes that they speak for the people you will find a way to navigate through this. The public will also not accept a "create a crisis" approach that will maneuver them into wanting a tax increase.

We need a main street with bars, restaurants and shops. Lets make it a priority using casino $$.

3% is acceptable

Less time spent on trying to sell off the beach and more time trying to bring in business, no condos as was promised by the new council.

i emailed last year response was not in the budget, So i going to ask again is it possible to put a small dog park beside the park that is there now but always large dogs in it on sports park rd.. (collingwood has one on poplar sideroad- 1-small dogs 1-large dogs) Tax increase i'd like to see 3.5%

We would like to see that the new Wasaga Beach Public Library be seen as a REQUIRED RESOURCE, by Council AND T-o-WB staff. NOT simply as a "necessary expense".
At COUNTY Council, WB representatives should push for increased focus on recycling of single-use plastics, using on-going dialogue with Barrie to emphasize to the Province this rapidly growing waste problem. USE our Provincial vote history to our Town advantage!
We worry that the intentionally overcapacity WB Waste Treatment Facility, also being used, with payments, by other Municipalities will quickly be overstretched by WB growth. Future planning to address this is vital.

We are facing a climate crisis, the biggest challenge of humanity on the planet for the generations to come. Each level of government needs to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Therefore the Wasaga Beach 2023 Budget should define some budget funding for climate actions such as:
- creation and funding of a Climate and Environment Advisory Committee
- hiring of Climate specialist (eventually part time)
- development of a climate action plan, including targets and actions plan to reduce the town GHG emissions,
- education of the community on climate change and how to reduce carbon footprint
- incentives for local businesses to improve energy efficiency and reduce their GG emmission and platic consumption
- environment protection and conservation policies improvement and enforcement
- Green building code improvement and enforcement for any new development
- Installation of EV charging station on town facilities and parking lots
- Green features addition to the new Twin Ice Rinks Arena and Library to increase energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions
- Infrastructure funding for climate change adaptation such as stormwater, driange and flooding management
etc...
Wasaga Beach Climate Action Team (WBCAT) has been recommending the Town to use a portion of the Gateway Casino revenue to Climate Action, as on of the sources of funding.

disingenuous. to provide just spreadsheets without explanation or context is a disservice to those you are asking to comment.
Where are the explanations? Where is the reasoning behind the changes?
There may be no right or wrong comments, but this is a poor method for getting community feedback given without specialist knowledge, its opaque.

We have just gone through several years of irresponsible Municipal governance and excessive spending.
We are now in an era of high inflation and a potential economic downturn.
How about NO tax increase and less spending.
In fact, if we had competent bylaw enforcement and more ticketing for the multitude of ongoing infractions, there would be more money in the kitty to offset some of the costs of running the town.

I am a senior on a fixed income, we are struggling as it is with food and gas prices which is due to inflation. We have already given up so much of any "extras" we use to enjoy. I think tax increases should be kept at a minimum for at least this coming year with the hope things will begin stabilize. I understand that inflation also affects the budget, but it is time to get creative folks, at least you can we seniors can't.

1 - PROJECTS : I'm fed up with the delays to the River Road West widening eastward from Veteran's Way. This is a 10 or 12 year old project that is badly needed. Too many cars are driving on the sidewalk area to pass a car that's stopped trying to turn left. I have seen a large transport trailer truck do this. This town needs to work on infrastructure before major projects are started, like our new Arena and Sunnidale Trails subdivision which will probably need widening at the road entrances.

2 - Tax Increases : 1 to 2 %, the new money we will be receiving from the Playtime casino will help in this regard.