Hamilton councilors say they are still looking for ways to reduce an average increase in average property taxes of approximately 5.6 percent, but savings will not come to freeze the police budget or reduce the city poet in residence.
Both were suggestions proposed by the councilors on Friday as part of a Meeting of the General Avisory Committee Focused on the city budget of 2025. Throughout it, the councilors transferred motions aimed at large and small expenses.
The cumulative result was approximately $ 500,000 in savings, said Mike Zegarac, general manager of corporate and corporate services, at the end of the meeting. He said that the average increase in proposed property taxes went from 5.66 percent at the beginning of the day, at approximately 5.62 percent at the end of the day.
Here is something that the councilors decided.
The Council rejects the motion to freeze the police budget
Cameron Kroetsch lawyer (Ward 2) moved a motion that the Hamilton Police Service Board Increase in the proposed budget of 5.7 percent (or around $ 12 million) be rejected and not increase at all. The result, he said, would have been a reduction of approximately 0.9 percent to the increase in projected property tax.
The police budget said Kroetsch has historically received more consistent support from the Council than any other departmental budget. Despite that, he said, residents continue to tell him that they are not obtaining what they want or need the police.
The motion was not an effort to define the police service, but to affirm that the funds cannot increase until the police respond to the calls to the members of the community and more transparency, said Coun. Alex Wilson (Ward 13), who seconded the motion.
Other councilors condemned the motion, saying that their constituents overwhelmingly support the expenditure on the police and want more service.
Lawyer Mike Spadafora (Ward 14) described the “unacceptable” motion and said that most Hamiltonians want the police “in their neighborhoods to protect their families.”
“I love the police,” he said.
“Don’t tell me that we don’t need the police. Don’t tell me they are not doing their job,” couun. Brad Clark (Ward 9) said.
The motion failed 2-14.
Poetry pilot outside the cutting block
A much smaller budget element also generated a significant debate: that of the city Poet in its pilot placethrough which the city hired a poet in residence to work, including the workshops of realization and accommodation.
The program is a painful place for many residents, several councilors said.
For some, said Clark, it is an “exemplification of the waste of the City Council.”
Lawyer Matt Francis (Ward 5) moved to finish the program and reallocate the funds to the infrastructure.
The staff said that due to a 60 -day termination clause in the contract, the measure would save the city around $ 8,300.
“Every dollar counts,” Francis said. “I don’t care if this program costs $ 10. People hate it and want to leave.”
Mayor Andrea Horwath was one of several in Coucil who defended the program, saying that arriving after such a relatively small expense seemed more political than practical. She said cities need “vitality” programs like this.
“I think poetry is important and we don’t have enough,” couun. Ted McMeekin said (neighborhood 15).
The motion failed in an 8-8 draw.
The councilors vote to clean the underground steps
At least one of Friday’s motions proposed expenses instead of saving money. Kroetsch moved to add $ 130,000 to the budget to improve the cleaning and safety of underground steps in rooms 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Kroetsch said that in response to concerns about dead pigeons, bird peanut and poor lighting under the bridges, he consulted the city staff, who later identified 14 underground steps of bridges that could be cleaned more frequently.
He observed improvements that had been made under bridges, such as the one near the Central Station of Hamilton Go in which the network to deter the bright pigeons and LED lights, is a safer and more pleasant center.
Lawyer Tom Jackson (Ward 6) said that although he wanted to reduce spending, “reluctantly” he would support Kroetsch’s movement, he added that he was “simply shocked” to learn about the lack of maintenance.
Horwath also expressed his frustration, saying that from his perspective, the city should be able to administer regular cleaning without the councilors having to intervene.
The motion carried 13-3.
Movements out of order
According to the Council of the Municipal Secretary Matthew Trenum, president of the meeting, Coun. Maureen Wilson (Barrio 1) ruled out some out -of -service motions on Friday, saying that they did not directly affect the budgetary process and that it would need to be discussed in a different forum.
One of those motions was coun. John Paul Danko (Ward 8) to “realign city financing” to organizations proved to be “community partners in good faith.” He said it was disappointing that he did not learn that the motion was out of service before.
In multiple points throughout the day, the councilors expressed their frustration with the budgetary process, which is different this year due to the expansion of the Ontario government of strong powers of mayor.
Budget deliberations will continue at the meeting of the Council of February 12.
