Amherstburg taxpayers received their first glimpse of the potential 2020 municipal budget on Monday. It includes a lot of things such as a 4.55% increase to the tax rate, a 2.5% increase to the water rate, and a 2.5% increase to the sewer rate. But it does not include the actuals from 2019.
What are "actuals?" They are the actual amount of dollars that got spent. You see, a budget is a projection at the beginning of the year of what you think you will spend. You only know what you actually spent when you reach the end of the year. That's why we call them the "actuals."
Why does a municipal Council need to know the actuals? Well, it's a matter of accountability. The Council should be examining every department to see whether or not that department came in on budget, and if it did not, then Council should demand an explanation as to why.
For example, below is a 2019 budget summary for the Libro Centre.
What are "actuals?" They are the actual amount of dollars that got spent. You see, a budget is a projection at the beginning of the year of what you think you will spend. You only know what you actually spent when you reach the end of the year. That's why we call them the "actuals."
Why does a municipal Council need to know the actuals? Well, it's a matter of accountability. The Council should be examining every department to see whether or not that department came in on budget, and if it did not, then Council should demand an explanation as to why.
For example, below is a 2019 budget summary for the Libro Centre.
As you can see, the Libro Centre was budgeted to lose $1,803,269 for the year 2019. That's a significantly large loss to begin with. I'm sure Amherstburg Council members would like to know whether or not the Libro Centre actually lost $1,803,269 in 2019. But the only way to know is to get the actuals.
As another example, below is the projected cost of fixing bridge 3008, the "narrow bridge" over the Long Marsh along Second Concession Road in Anderdon.
That bridge was supposed to be replaced in 2018 but it didn't get done. Then it was supposed to be replaced in 2019 but it didn't get done. Below is a snippet from the 2019 budget.
The project did not get done in 2018 or 2019. So where did the money go? Was it kept in a reserve fund? Was it spent? I'm sure Amherstburg Council members would like to know where the money went. But the only way to know is to get the actuals.
It's administration's job to report the actuals to Council. Administration needs to show Council who came in over budget, on budget, or under budget. Administration needs to report where money went for uncompleted projects. Administration needs to show how close they complied with Council's 2019 budget. As my wife, a vice-principal and teacher of 22 years put it, "You have to show your teacher your homework." If you don't, how does the teacher know it got done?
So, may we have the actuals, please?
It's administration's job to report the actuals to Council. Administration needs to show Council who came in over budget, on budget, or under budget. Administration needs to report where money went for uncompleted projects. Administration needs to show how close they complied with Council's 2019 budget. As my wife, a vice-principal and teacher of 22 years put it, "You have to show your teacher your homework." If you don't, how does the teacher know it got done?
So, may we have the actuals, please?