There has been a lot of heat surrounding the 30M wastewater expansion project to the south of our city. And although there is plenty of information on the topic available on the city website, it can be a challenge to summarize it and make sense of it in your head
Over the past seven months, I have spoken with the developers, the city mayor, the city staff, chamber members, investment professionals, developers in other cities, our board, and our executive committee, not to mention countless Brandonites, about this proposed bylaw I have read the articles in the Brandon Sun and the reports and other information on the city website I am informed on this issue and feel like I understand it well enough to explain it.
So here it goes; not moving ahead with the expansion will mean halting development, including commercial and residential properties in the southern part of Brandon. This has various consequences, including (continued) housing shortages, and increased housing prices, among other increases. While I support growth for our city, including this bylaw, I also recognize that any increase to a rate or tax is potentially difficult for many.
For clarity, the Southwest Lift Stations (SWLS) will be partially funded through our water utility payments, which are set to increase up to 100% over the next four years, including staged increases in service charges by the city. If this endeavour is not approved, our water utility rates will still increase by an estimated 79% from current rates. The dramatic rise in water utility rates is of concern but is a different topic. Below is a chart that I created based on the information provided by the city, it is a very simplistic view of the SWLS impact on our water bills.
No growth means no added tax base both commercially or residentially, to offset any infrastructure needs or basic inflation impacts in the future This equates to our debt being paid by fewer residents and business owners in our city In other words, we will have to pay more because there are fewer of us to split the cost And of course, there is room to cast shade on the city for not actioning things soon enough, or on those who stand to gain from this development And in fairness, this affects more of us than the developers, as many of us could gain from the commercial and residential expansion It will have an impact on our local lumber stores, landscapers, tradespeople, grocery stores, restaurants, health care, and more One of the first questions a company considering moving to our city asks is, what is your housing situation?
You can argue infill and not expansion, our current development plan states a goal of 20% growth from infill, and we are sitting at 30%. We are doing better than prescribed. And if work dries up for our trades, or affected businesses, what will happen? It is reasonable to assume they will relocate to where the work is, so there is a risk of losing what we have because we cannot support it.
We can choose to be angry that developers will make money, but a goal of a profit-driven business, is just that, to make money. I think it is also important to consider how many jobs both directly and indirectly these developers, and there are more than one, create or sustain. Keep in mind they also front the money to get the development approved, studies done, etc. That means some of them are more than 1M into this with a possible no go on the lift stations. A no go on lift stations for developments that are approved.
There is also an option to consider the benefit of a broader tax base; more services, more opportunity, and the likely hood that splash parks, better roads, or an indoor field house, are closer in our future with this moving ahead And it is important to recognize that when the city has been asked for information or answers, they have provided it Possibly not in a way we favour, understand, or even like, but they have provided it They have offered public hearings, open houses, and posted information
You will have to make your own decision on this issue, I hope I have been able to provide some clarity on the fees and how we arrived at our collective board decision On behalf of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, I confirm, that after performing our due diligence, we support the proposed bylaw for the Southwest Lift Station(s).
Tanya LaBuick, Brandon Chamber PresidentFirst Friday Coffee
Stop by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce office and enjoy some delicious coffee and donuts while you chat with other business owners, board members, and your Chamber staff!
9:00am-10:00am| Friday, 3rd, 2023
Free |1043 Rosser Avenue | No registration Required
Sponsored by
Chamber Luncheon
The Brandon Chamber of Commerce is excited to have Colin Ferguson with Travel Manitoba speaking about the state of travel at our February Luncheon! Lunch is provided by the Keystone in the MNP hall. We can't wait to see you there!
11:30am-1:00pm | Thursday, February 16th, 2023
Keystone Centre, MNP Hall | Registration Required
Sponsored by
Business After 5
Taylor Jackson Financial is February's generous host for our monthly Business After 5! Come and learn about who they are, what they do, and have the chance to network with other members in a welcoming environment.
5:00pm-7:00pm | Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023
Taylor Jackson Financial Services | Free | Registration Requested
Special thanks to January's luncheon sponsor
Above: Mereydth Leech accepts an Award on behalf of Leech Group from Brandon Salutes
Right: Marcel Kringe, CEO and Founder of Bushel Plus, speaks at our January Luncheon
Above: January's Business After 5 was held at ACC Victoria Campus
Here are some ideas to help you hit your 2023 reading goals!
The Crux: How Leaders Become Strategists by
Richard P. Rumelt
"In this ground-breaking book, Richard Rumelt, the world's leading authority on strategy, shows how finding the crux of a challenge is the essence of the strategist's skill. The crux is the key issue where action will best pay off, and Rumelt reveals how to pinpoint it so you can focus energy on what really matters...Rumelt illuminates how leaders can overcome obstacles, navigate uncertainty and determine the best path forward."
The Upside of Uncertainty: A Guide to Finding Possibility in the Unknown by
Nathan Furr and Susannah Harmon Furr
"Whether you ' re starting or running a business, searching for new ideas, or trying to advance in your career, you ' re likely to grapple with the unknown and unpredictableevery day Though these moments can be difficult and uncomfortable, they also offer opportunities for personal growth, innovation, and creativity Nathan and Susannah provide over thirty tools for adopting a more positive view of what's happening, developing a vision for what to do next, and opening ourselves up to more and more possibilities."
The Burnout Challenge: Managing People’s Relationships with Their Jobs by
Christina Maslach and Michael P. Leiter
"Our research has identified at least six areas in which a bad fit – or mismatch –between the job and the person can increase the risk of burnout. In our book, The Burnout Challenge, we detail these six mismatches – what they are, why they have such a toxic effect, and how to fix them and achieve better matches between the job and the person. If mismatches can be corrected or improved, then there are ways to prevent burnout and promote greater engagement with work. "
Deep Purpose: The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies by
Ranjay Gulati
"Deep Purpose argues that a revolutionary approach to business does exist, one that delivers game-changing results for both companies and society alike: the serious and deep pursuit of purpose In this practical book, Gulati argues that companies must embed purpose much more deeply than they currently do, treating it as a radically new operating system for the enterprise When companies practice deep purpose, furthering their organization’s “ reason for being” it can revolutionize how they do business and deliver impressive performance benefits that reward customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, and communities "
Tell us a bit about what your business does:
We help clients create future security and independence through strategic planning with investment and insurance solutions
What made you want to start your own business:
I wanted to be able to control my own schedule and to realize the rewards of the effort I put into my business. Running my own business allowed me to control my destiny. I didn’t have to worry about “right sizing”, “down sizing”, or corporate re-organization, as was happening in the Ag industry at that time.
What are some professional achievements you have had personally:
I have been a member of the insurance industries Million Dollar Round Table (a global, independent association of the world's leading life insurance and financial services professionals from more than 500 companies in 70 nations and territories) I am also a consistent Top 15% Producer within Sun Life, and I have celebrated over 20 years in business!
What are some professional achievements your business has had, as a team: We moved into a new office in March 2022, had Jon Eilers join our business in December of 2021, and we have achieved a Special Status Award through Sun Life for business growth.
What are you most excited for this year for your business: Continued growth in the business driven by:
the fact that new associate advisor has been with our business for a year we are settled in new office and no more renos to work through we have fantastic admin staff in place
The Brandon Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate the following members on receiving Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
(L) Carla Milne, MNP
(R) Matt Bolley, MNP
Marcel Kringe, Bushel Plus
Many small business owners are not aware that they can claim a portion of their household expenses if they work from home and meet one of the following conditions:
The work space is where you mainly (more than 50% of the time) do your work. You use the workspace only to earn your employment income. You also have to use it on a regular and continuous basis for meeting clients, customers, or other people in the course of your employment duties.
These expenses include rent, utilities, property tax, home insurance, and mortgage interest. Though you cannot claim 100% of these expenses, claiming a portion will still save you a lot come tax time.
Businesses require capital assets such as furniture and equipment, computer hardware and software, leasehold improvements etc. If equipment needs to be purchased, or there is a need to make leasehold improvements for the business, when possible, these should be made towards the end of the year. By doing so, the business can claim a full year depreciation (subject to the half year rule) even though the assets were in use for a few weeks or months.
A small business owner can be compensated by being paid a salary, receiving a dividend, or a mix of both. All three options have their own advantages and disadvantages. The key is to determine what mix will maximize each individual shareholder’s earnings. Determining the right mix can be complicated and confusing so it is always best to ask an experienced accountant to help get the salary/dividend mix balance right.
Paying spouses or children a reasonable salary or wage from a small business is deductible. The key word here is REASONABLE, meaning the salary paid should fairly compensate the family member for the amount of work or services provided to the small business. This can reduce the family tax bill when compared to paying all the salary to the small business owner.
Small businesses could be doing business as usual and not realize that there are tax credits available that could help the business minimize its taxes. Sometimes these credits are only available if an election is filed. For example, if a small business hires an apprentice it could apply for the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit (AJCTC). The AJTC is a non-refundable tax credit equal to 10% of the eligible salaries and wages payable to eligible apprentices employed after May 1, 2006. The maximum credit an employer can claim and apply for is $2,000 per year for each eligible apprentice.
Dunne, Darren “4 Tax Tips for Small Business ” Small Business BC, 24 Sept 2019, https://smallbusinessbc ca/article/4-taxtips-for-small-business/.
