1992 Annual Budget Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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I] @' Co"p~ration of the County of h'ssex I ~ (//I'rr' rj 1/'" (,olll!/ ,-:/rlm",;'/""ICJ' fr/w .;It '(fUi''''''' I ( Adm;n;""'Q. I I I I I I I I February 20, 1992 Dear Members of Council: The budget being brought to you for consideration in support of 1992 anticipated activity is attached. This year a new approach to the budgeting task undertaken. Council adopted a recommendation of Executive Committee that a target be established for overall 1992 County levy increase. That target was at a 4.5% increase on the 1992 levy over the 1991 levy. was the the set At first glance it appeared that Council's target level was somewhat optimistic in the face of increasing Social Services costs, transitional costs related to occupancy of the new premises at Sun Parlor Home, Pay Equity adjustments, 1991 operational def ici t, reduced trans fer payments from the Province, etc. I I I I I I I I I I I I I The attitude adopted by the Management Team, however, was one of concentration on how to achieve the target rather than a negative fixation on the seeming impossibility of the task. The result, I feel, is most encouraging. We are indeed heading in the direction of the stated goal of a 4.5% maximum increase. In very summary form, the 1992 estimates can be broken down into three (3) categories. They are 1. Direct Operations 2. External Commitments 3. 1991 Deficit In the first category, Direct Operations, the 4.5% target is met; in fact, it is exceeded. While each department was not able to successfully meet the objective due to a lack of control over mandatory expenditures, in total the Direct Operations levy impact is less than 4.5%. These budgets have all been reviewed by committee and will be detailed for you during the budget session. The second category, External Commitments, reflects those areas over which we have less control by virtue of legislation or prior Council commitments. Where appropriate, we have called upon these external agencies to honour the 4.5% target established and in so doing, have realized some success. The third category, 1991 Deficit, will be discussed in detail by the Treasurer describing its component parts. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the co-operation put forth by staff in adhering to a hiring/purchasing freeze imposed in October 1991 and which went a long way in mitigating the 1991 operating deficit to be addressed in 1992. . 360 Fairview A\lenue West, Essex Ontario N8M 1 Y6 - 776-6441