Аудитор похвалил финансовую дисциплину муниципалитета Уэст-Перт за профицит бюджета

2025 surplus good news for West Perth, auditor says Article content At a time when rising costs make it more difficult to make ends meet, West Perth staff and council were praised for the way they balanced the municipal books last year. Auditor Paul Seebach of Clinton-based Seebach & Company spent the first 10 minutes of council’s Aug. 10 meeting presenting an overview of the 2025 audit of the municipality, giving it high marks for the “clean” report. Recommended Videos For 2025, West Perth concluded the year with a surplus of $348,415, despite experiencing significant cost pressures related to higher winter maintenance costs due to weather conditions and costs associated with the July 2025 storm event. A year-end surplus or deficit does not necessarily indicate that services were over or under-delivered; rather, it reflects the difference between the assumptions used in preparing the budget and the actual financial results achieved during the year, said a subsequent report from treasurer Wendy McMurray. At the end of the year, the municipal debt was $6.6 million, down from $6.8 million after West Perth completed payments on a loan for a pumping station. Provincial regulations state that municipalities are allowed debt repayments on 25 per cent of their revenue and, at the end of last year, West Perth was at 11 per cent, Seebach noted. Reserves were approximately $24.8 million, an increase of $2.3 million from 2024, partly because not all capital projects planned for 2025 were done. “What that all means is you didn’t do all your capital when we look at your financial position. . . . You have more money in the bank and higher reserves,” Seebach said. Later in the same meeting, however, clerk James Hutson brought to council’s attention an update of the current Ontario Provincial Police’s budget and its anticipated costs, which have risen by 11 per cent this year, from a budgeted $1.88 million to $1.97 million, or an increase of $91,338. The cost was capped, Hutson said, pointing out the full cost of policing services would have been almost $2.3 million without it. West Perth does receive enhanced services in its current contract, specifically a sergeant and administrative help, which drives up the costs but are not part of the capped portion. For the 2027 budget year, no cap is expected, Hutson noted, so cautioned council the base allocation will be $2.3 million for the 2027 budget year. “That’s what we need to plan for because we can’t anticipate a similar cap to come forward in the 2027 year,” he said. New collective agreements were blamed for the rise in costs, council was told. With more than 20 officers that routinely work out of the Mitchell office on St. George Street downtown, “we do have a fairly large police presence for the size of our municipality,” Mayor Walter McKenzie said. West Perth also received more good news during the meeting, with several generous donations received from local community organizations geared to support the youth centre downtown. The municipality has received $5,000 from the Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company, $2,000 from the Lions Club of Monkton and its kids camp, and $1,500 from the West Perth Community Singers. Each donor has noted they would like the funds to be used toward the purchase of equipment that will benefit all users of the youth centre, with proposed equipment to include a water bottle filling station, a mobile pool table with pool balls, an interactive game projector and video games, and an arcade game cabinet. “These contributions demonstrate the community’s commitment to enhancing opportunities for youth and ensuring the Youth Centre continues to provide engaging and inclusive programming,” said Nic Larsen, community services director, in his report.