Latest news with #MunicipalAct
CTV News
20 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Windsor looks to formalize Auditor General's independence under strong mayor system
Windsor's Auditor General Chris O'Connor speaks to council Monday in support of a bylaw to formalize his office's independence. (Travis Fortnum/CTV News Windsor) Windsor could soon join other Ontario cities in enshrining legal protections for its Auditor General (AG) — a move aimed at strengthening oversight in the era of strong mayor powers. On Monday, city council voted to have administration draft a bylaw that would clearly define the independence of the municipality's top watchdog. Currently, the Auditor General's role in Windsor is governed largely by convention rather than law. There is no existing local bylaw outlining how the AG is appointed, how their work plan is approved, or what level of funding is guaranteed for the office. That sets Windsor apart from other municipalities like Ottawa, Sudbury and Thunder Bay, which all have detailed bylaws in place to protect the autonomy and scope of their AG offices. Council was presented Monday with a comparator report prepared by city administration, outlining how other cities structure and safeguard their AG functions. While the Auditor General did not author the report, he provided input based on research and professional standards. The proposed bylaw is expected to address several key areas, including structural safeguards around appointment and removal, rules for public reporting, the development of the AG's work plan and a possible minimum funding threshold to ensure the office remains effective as the city grows. The issue comes amid broader changes to Windsor's governance model under Ontario's strong mayor legislation, which grants expanded powers to the mayor, including control over budgeting and senior staffing decisions. The AG's office reports directly to council and is not addressed within the new Municipal Act provisions, making the role something of a grey area under the strong mayor framework. A formal bylaw would clarify the position's independence from both council and administration, regardless of who holds political power. Council voted unanimously to direct staff to work with the AG and bring back a draft bylaw for future consideration.
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Burlington city staff given 2026 budget target
Burlington staff will draft a 2026 municipal budget aiming to cap the total property tax increase at 4.5 per cent. According to a city council motion passed July 15, councillors endorsed a mayoral decision that targets a 3.0 per cent increase in the city's portion of the tax bill, which also includes Halton Region and school board taxes, and a city budget increase of 5.8 per cent or less. Council also endorsed a second mayoral decision that removes the mayor's veto period, provided under provincial strong-mayor powers. The decision states Mayor Marianne Meed Ward will 'not exercise the power to veto' the 2026 budget, granted by Ontario's Municipal Act. Councillors also received for information staff's updated financial forecast outlining economic pressures and service needs that will shape next year's budget. Projections were updated based on a forecasted 4.6 per cent increase to Halton Region's share of property taxes, resulting in an overall tax increase of 4.49 per cent for Burlington property taxpayers. In a statement issued by the city's communications staff, Meed Ward said affordability is the top priority as the city begins shaping the 2026 budget. 'Every investment will be reviewed through that lens — finding savings where possible while protecting the services and quality of life residents rely on today and in the future,' Meed Ward said. Community consultation on the city's 2026 budget begins on Aug. 25 with an online survey on the city's Get Involved Burlington website's budget page . A Food for Feedback event is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. on Sept. 13 at Central Park ( 2331 New St. ) A total of six in-person town halls, one in each ward, will be held between Sept. 18 and Oct. 2. A telephone town hall is scheduled for 7-8:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. A proposed 2026 budget is expected to be released Oct. 24, ahead of its first presentation at the Nov. 3 committee of the whole meeting. City departments are scheduled to present to the city's budget committee on Nov. 13. The budget committee will review the proposed budget and any amendments from councillors on Nov. 24 and 25. Final review and approval of the budget by city council is scheduled Dec. 2. More information on the 2026 budget process, and feedback opportunities, is available at the Get Involved Burlington website . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Time of India
20-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Keep plots clean near airport to deter dogs and birds: PMC
Pune: The civic body has issued a notice to owners of private land plots near Lohegaon airport, instructing them to remove garbage from their properties within a week. The decision was made after Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and his team conducted an extensive survey of such properties in Lohegaon, Wagholi and Kharadi on Saturday. Ram told TOI, "If we don't keep properties in the airport's vicinity clean, air operations won't be smooth. I noticed large birds flying over many spots filled with rubbish. We have instructed the owners to ensure their properties are clean. We will fine them if they do not comply. We will seize the properties under the Municipal Act if they still fail to act." You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune The Indian Air Force (IAF) manages the Pune Air Force station (AFS) and officials have raised several civic concerns regarding the area surrounding Lohegaon airport because of recent incidents of bird strikes and stray dogs on the runways. In response, PMC has made changes in its waste collection process. Now, garbage is lifted in three shifts and a dog-catching team does the rounds twice a week. "Despite our efforts, plots in Wagholi and Kharadi remain filled with trash and attract large birds which then fly in the airport's flight zone. It poses a significant risk to air operations and we must act quickly. I have directed our civic officials to work diligently and improve the situation on ground over the coming months," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Lohegaon, Wagholi and Kharadi have hundreds of empty plots owned by developers and real estate agents. Residents living nearby dump garbage at these sites daily. It hinders the civic teams' attempts to lift trash, according to officials. "Our teams will also visit private shops and warn them not to throw waste in open areas. We will conduct awareness campaigns. Cleanliness has improved in Lohegaon relatively speaking, but it is still to be the best," said PMC chief. Civic officials are working in tandem with the IAF in Lohegaon and surrounding areas to maintain required cleanliness standards in the airport's vicinity. "However, it will take a few months to see the results . We have also decided to increase our manpower in Wagholi and Kharadi to push the cleanliness drive and streamline garbage collection," the commissioner said. A senior IAF officer, who has served at the AFS Lohegaon, told TOI on the condition of anonymity, "Our primary concern is to make areas in the vicinity of the station free of garbage. We have deployed a team to keep away birds from inside the airport. However, it is not possible to manage the situation outside. It is very risky for pilots if there are flocks of birds in the flying zone. Birds react to aircrafts as just another bird and often do not change their flying trajectory. We have experienced such incidents at the Pune station." PMC officials also visited the Hadapsar trenching ground in the industrial zone, where the Pune Cantonment Board dumps garbage. "We will develop a dedicated biomining plant to process the waste at the site. This particular zone also attracts large birds, which can interfere with the flying zone," said a senior PMC official.
Hamilton Spectator
19-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Peel Regional Council approves new auditor general position
Peel Region is moving ahead with an independent Office of the Auditor General, following a July 10 council vote to adopt bylaw 39-2025 — a move officials say will strengthen public accountability and oversight of regional spending. The newly created office will operate independently from Peel's chief administrative officer and senior leadership. Its mandate includes auditing regional departments, grant recipients, certain local boards, and Peel-controlled corporations such as Peel Living. The auditor general will also operate a confidential fraud and waste hotline. 'The auditor general's independent role will provide council with clearer insights, help uncover opportunities for efficiency, and ensure we are delivering the highest value to the taxpayers of Peel,' said Regional Chair Nando Iannicca in a July 17 media release. The office is authorized under Ontario's Municipal Act, 2001, which allows municipalities to appoint an auditor general to help ensure value-for-money and quality of stewardship over public funds. The position was formally established through bylaw 39-2025, which outlines the scope of duties, appointment process, reporting structures and operational independence of the office. The auditor general will report directly to council and submit both an annual audit plan and a report on the office's activities. While the auditor general maintains sole authority over deletions or amendments to their annual audit plan, council can add items to the plan through a two-thirds majority vote. While the auditor general can audit most regional programs and entities, the bylaw excludes some local boards, including the Peel Police Services Board and Peel Board of Health, unless those boards specifically request an audit. The office will undergo an external peer review every three years and must complete an annual compliance audit. The appointment itself must be made through a council-led recruitment process and approved by a two-thirds vote of all councillors. The term may be set for up to seven years and cannot be renewed, except under exceptional circumstances approved by council. Last month, Mississauga Councillor Dipika Damerla introduced the original motion during a June 12 council meeting. While that meeting ended without a final vote due to loss of quorum, the decision was revived and finalized on July 10. 'Right now, we're the only major Canadian municipality of our size without an independent auditor general, and I think that's a glaring gap,' Damerla had said during the June 12 meeting. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Missing building numbers in K-Smart continue to trouble taxpayers
Building numbers remain missing from K-Smart within Kochi Corporation limits, as evident from continued complaints by taxpayers who are unable to pay property tax due to the issue. Corporation officials have attributed the problem to possible omissions during the data migration process to the new software. The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) alleged that thousands of building numbers were missing from K-Smart and blamed the distress of taxpayers—who often need tax receipts for various purposes—on the inefficiency and apathy of the Corporation. The data migration from the earlier Sanchaya software began a couple of years ago. 'Thousands of building numbers went missing from K-Smart due to the absence of the digital signature of the parties concerned. Only cases involving owners who pay tax yearly have come to light. Many more may remain undetected, as a large number of people pay the tax only once in three or four years, especially when they require tax receipts,' said M.G. Aristotle, member of the Corporation's finance standing committee and UDF parliamentary party secretary. However, revenue officials of the Corporation insisted that only a negligible building numbers remain missing in K-Smart, attributing it to possible omissions during data entry. 'Whenever taxpayers raise such issues, we verify the numbers concerned against the assessment register. Our inspectors then conduct field inspections, and based on their reports, we report the matter to the Information Kerala Mission, which promptly carries out the necessary back-end corrections,' said revenue sources. Since large parts of the assessment register were illegible due to its archaic nature, the Corporation, with council approval, introduced a system allowing taxpayers—whose numbers were not found in the register despite having paid tax—to self-assess using Form 2. Revenue inspectors then verified these before inclusion in K-Smart. The demolition of buildings without notifying the Corporation has also added to the problem. 'According to Section 240 of the Municipal Act, a building can be demolished only after clearing tax dues. It has emerged that over 1,000 buildings have been demolished, making verification difficult. Data entry omissions are inexcusable, especially since the Corporation spent ₹30 lakh on data entry alone as a precursor to K-Smart's rollout. Issuing sub-numbers as a temporary fix for missing building numbers will only complicate matters for owners who have recorded the original building numbers in important documents,' said Mr. Aristotle.
