Transit, garbage dominate city budget consultation

Orleans Stars, December 11, 2009

By Patricia Lonergan

Proposed green bin fees, transit fare hikes and OC Transpo route reductions were the hot button issues at last night’s east-end city budget consultation.

Councillors Michel Bellemare, Rainer Bloess, Rob Jellett and Bob Monette and a host of city staff met with residents at the Earl Armstrong Arena on Thursday, Dec. 10 to discuss the city’s proposed 2010 draft budget.

Councillors were asked how they could justify raising OC Transpo fares by an average of 7.5 per cent given there was a difficult strike this time last year.

The overall transit objective, explained Bellemare, is to ensure parity between the taxpayer contribution and that of direct transit users. He noted the goal is to have taxpayers pay for half the costs while users of the system contribute the other half.

While a good objective, Bellemare continued, a 7.5 per cent increase might be going too far too fast this year.

As for the proposed cuts to service, which could shave $3 million from the transit budget, Bellemare indicated the 500,000 fewer bus trips could affect many riders and councillors need to look at whether such reductions are appropriate following a lengthy strike.

Others at the meeting, meanwhile, questioned the proposed $38 green bin fee as well as the overall cost of the service.

City manager Kent Kirkpatrick noted the green bin program has significant public support while Jellett pointed out the city has to meet provincial targets when it comes to waste diversion.

According to a waste services spokesperson from the city, the hope s that with increased diversion rates the Trail Road landfill will be the last landfill in the municipality.