As the city attempts to balance a $35-million budget shortfall – including a potential 4.9-per-cent property tax increase – cuts to the arts, a reduction in child-care spaces, rising sports fees and elimination of transit routes hit home for the crowd at the Thursday, Nov. 20 meeting.

"We're here in the frame of mind to listen to all of you," said Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Michel Bellemare at the meeting's outset. "Year after year we have difficult budgets to deal with. (This year's draft budget) is a starting point."

Orléans Coun. Bob Monette was more cautious, suggesting that while all four east-end councillors plan to "work very hard" to protect services, the currently proposed tax increase is unacceptable.

Finding a balance between what residents need and what taxpayers are willing to shoulder is key, continued Innes Coun. Rainer Bloess, as well as looking at areas that could be trimmed without detrimental impacts to the city's quality of life.

Alarming for many residents at last week's meeting were the $4.6-million cut to child-care spaces, $6-million increase for transit fares, $4-million hike for users fees and the $4.1-million slashing of arts, culture and heritage funds being considered.

Wendy Manor, a Pagé Road resident, pointed to the #23 bus route – on the block to be cut due to reported low ridership – as her main cause for concern, adding that taking it away would impact everything from housing values to residents’ accessibility, especially people with disabilities.

Already, current service along Pagé "is deplorable," she continued. "(Now, the city is) taking services away from us, who supported the development of transit."

A 5.7 per cent transit service increase was in the works before the $35-million budget shortfall was announced, explained head of OC Transpo Alain Mercier at the meeting, calling it "the single-largest increase of service" in its history.

Now, he continued, with additional budget pressures, OC Transpo must focus on routes where overcrowding is a major issue, or where 24-hour service is desperately needed.

Numerous audience members also stood up to challenge cuts to arts funding at the event, including Heather Jamieson – former general manager of the Orléans Young Players – who questioned the citizens' satisfaction survey cited as one of the reasons arts are on the chopping block.

"It's not that (residents) say, 'We don't like the arts," responded city treasurer Marian Simulik, explaining that the survey offered options ranging from 'a lot more' to 'a lot less' in terms of city action on certain issues. "Unfortunately, the numbers always come up 'a lot less' in arts, culture and heritage."

Susan Flemming, an east-end playwright and director also heavily involved in the Museum Sustainability Plan, echoed the same concerns, noting the current budget debate is all too similar to last time.

"(Mayor Larry) O'Brien said, 'You do not have to come back again,' and yet here we are," she recounted of the arts and culture funding discussion, questioning whether it's council sending – or staff receiving – a mixed message.

Being more specific when instructing staff on budget concerns may be a future change, replied Cumberland Coun. Rob Jellett, especially when it comes to preserving services that are significant to the community.

Full text available at The Orleans Star.