A lack of political direction

Jeff Green | Jan 28, 2010

Editorial by Jeff Green

It's now been several years since federal gas tax money started flowing to Frontenac County. That money is a rebate from gas tax that we all pay whenever we fill up, and municipalities wanted some of it to deal with what they called an “infrastructure deficit”. Almost by accident, Frontenac County got some of that money even though the county had none of what municipalities traditionally call infrastructure (roads, bridges, water treatment and sewage plants, etc).

When the money came in, Frontenac County staff was reluctant to let the money be released to the townships, which have the responsibility for infrastructure, and the members of Frontenac County Council have accepted delay after delay.

Years later, most of that money has yet to be spent, and the bulk of what is going to be spent is on things like mapping, a transportation management plan, population development studies, and other similar projects.

Current members of County Council have more or less given up on any of that money flowing to their townships.

Now there is another $750,000 in savings that have come from provincial uploading of costs for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

County Council members have seen that this money is included in the County budget, and they have seen that it is being absorbed into that budget. If that money is not freed up this year and sent to the municipalities, which after all is the level of government in Frontenac County that delivers municipal services and is responsible for roads and bridges etc., it will remain with the county forever.

If that happens, it will be as the result of lack of political will on the part of county council.

And sooner or later, Frontenac ratepayers will see a resulting increase in taxes or cuts in service.