By Jeff Helsdon | Woodstock Ingersoll Echo
Council in Tillsonburg, Ont., has approved a review of its payroll compliance, but not before concerns were raised about funding the procedure through the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve.
Joanna Kurowski, human resources manager, and Renato Pullia, interim director of finance/treasurer, submitted the request to council, asking that a payroll compliance review be completed. It was to be funded from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve to a maximum cost of $45,000. Such a review would ensure the town is following all relevant legislation when paying its employees.
Explaining the concept to council at the Oct. 7 meeting, Pullia explained the Town of Tillsonburg has never had a third-party review of its payroll systems.
“It’s risk aversion to ensure our procedures are keeping with the over 200 pieces of legislation,” he added.
Coun. Chris Parker questioned the risk of putting off the review until 2025 budget discussions since earlier in the meeting Pullia stated the balance in the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve should be higher than it currently sits.
“The reason for the timing is to just enter the process, and if there are any adjustments, we would make those for 2024 year-end,” Pullia answered, adding the risk of waiting a few months isn’t too high.
Mayor Deb Gilvesy asked what the risk is to the town if the review is not completed.
Pullia said the town has never been audited by the CRA and if any issues were found there could be interest charges and fines.
Gilvesy said she was getting nervous about the amount in the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve, a point she made earlier in the same meeting as well.
In its second split decision of the meeting, council passed funding the payroll review from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve.
