Aylmer sends Complex budget back

Aylmer councillors at their Monday, June 1 meeting sent the draft 2015 East Elgin Community Complex budget back to the facility’s Ad Hoc Committee to find a further $40,000 to $50,000 in savings. That was despite that committee, whose only voting members are the mayors of Aylmer and Malahide, just last week voting to send the budget back to their councils for final approval.

Deputy Mayor Mary French on Monday night first suggested that the Complex draft budget, the subject of an Ad Hoc Committee public meeting on Wednesday, May 27, be sent back so that more savings could be realized.

Councillor Arthur Oslach agreed and identified between $40,000 and $50,000 could be found. He didn’t explain how he arrived at those numbers or suggest where to make the cuts. The budget as it stands now calls for a deficit of $522,718 to be split evenly by Aylmer and Malahide, who share ownership of the Complex.

Cr. Ann Laur said the savings should be found without cancelling any further programs at the Complex.

Those key messages became the eventual resolution passed by councillors after further debate. Voting against the motion were Mayor Greg Currie and Cr. Pete Barbour.