Essa starts budget process
by Richard Blanchard

Essa council and staff began their 2007 budget process last week at a special meeting.

But after four hours concentrating on proposed expenditures for the coming year, mayor Dave Guergis said that it was too early to talk about the size of a tax increase.

"We really have no idea at this point. It's all very preliminary and we were all looking at the wish list for the coming year," he said.

"A clearer picture will be coming after the next budget meeting," he said.

Among the major proposed major expenditures for the township this year are spending $250,000 for a permanent skateboard park in Angus, $500,000 for a new salt/sand storage unit at the township garage, $2,200,000 on upgrading the 5th concession and building a new bridge on the road near Angus.

The township is expecting to receive two thirds of the cost of the new bridge from the COMRIF program which sees provincial and federal monies go towards infrastructure reconstruction and use the new federal gas rebate program to pay for the new salt and sand storage building.

$180,000 has been budgeted for new playground equipment through the township while $100,000 in new lights has been requested for Bush Diamond baseball field in Angus.

Almost $1.3 million is estimated as the cost of constructing a new well, pumping station and distribution system to serve water needs in Angus from the Brownley site. The township will also spend $623,400 for upgrades to the Baxter water system.

The township is looking at that the sale of two township owned lots on Malcolm St. and at Church and River.

The next budget meeting will be held April 4 at noon at the township administration building.