LaSalle councillors say $30 million town hall is a “good foundation”

By Taylor Busch

CP Editor

 

In the weeks following the election, LaSalle councillors reflect on their town’s recent purchases as they decide what to do next.

Dale Langlois is the current deputy treasurer and manager of finance for the town.  He said the outgoing council did a good job of putting away money for unexpected purchases and the new council should do the same.

“We had to take on some debt for a new building but we didn’t fully fund it with debt,” said Langlois.  “For other building projects around town we will make sure we have the money available before we spend it.  That’s just sound financial planning.”

In addition to growing costs and staff wages, Langlois confirmed that the council will announce increased spending in other areas.  In LaSalle’s 2013 final budget, the town reported spending less than $100 on employee training and $2,500 on tuition fees.  This year, the council planned to spend roughly $1,000 on employee training and $5,000 on tuition fees.

“We have a program where if people take a course and it’s related to their employment the town will pay for it, and more people have been taking advantage of it,” said Langlois.  “It’s a very minimal part of our budget and it benefits the town.”

Newly appointed deputy mayor Mark Bondy said he thinks the new buildings were a good investment for the town.  He believes more investors will be drawn to LaSalle as a result of the development.

“We spent a lot of money on new facilities, but if we want investors to come to our town we have to invest in our town which we’ve done,” said Bondy.  “If you talk to other municipalities they might not say it publically, but off the record they’re saying they want to emulate LaSalle financially.”

According to Langlois, no departments are expected to spend less than they did in 2013, but some of the departments expected to spend nearly the same amount.  New sidewalk construction is expected to cost $200,000, sidewalk repairs $60,000 and trails $50,000.

“I think we’ve been building those items up over the last 15 years,” said Langlois.  “Our town slogan is ‘Healthy, Vibrant and Caring,’ so we want people to get more active.  And because the program has been around for about 15 years, some of the stuff is starting to need to be replaced.”

Re-elected Mayor Ken Antaya said he does not feel pressure from residents to decrease spending this term because of the overwhelming support he received from voters during the election.  Not unlike Eddie Francis during his term in office, Anatya said new buildings are the key to drawing more businesses and big-ticket events to LaSalle.

“Over the past four years we reconstructed all of our municipal buildings.  It cost us over $30 million, but now we are set for the next 30 or 40 years,” said Antaya.

During the election, one of the concerns raised by LaSalle residents was a lack of transparency in spending.  Langlois said residents can view the town’s budget at each council meeting or by visiting their website.

“I don’t know how we could be more transparent,” said Langlois.  “All projects go through council and every single cheque that’s written is included in the council’s report each meeting.  Everyone is welcome to go to the council meetings and voice their ideas on how to make things more transparent if they have any.”

LaSalle’s next council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 1.  The current agenda calls for new councillors to be sworn in, property taxes to be debated and the 2015 proposed budget to be announced.

 

 

 

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The town of LaSalle’s website is http://www.town.lasalle.on.ca/