South Frontenac commits $250,000 to COVID relief for individuals, businesses

Jeff Green | Feb 10, 2021

Back in November, when South Frontenac Council was meeting to set the parameters for the 2021 township budget, they wanted to find a way to support people who were impacted by COVID.

“We had enough money available from our working reserve to put $250,000 aside, which is a little over 1% of our levy, for this purpose” said Neil Carbone, Chief Administrative Officer for South Frontenac.

Unlike other reserve funds that the township has on its books, the working reserve fund is made up mainly of leftover funds, some from projects or programs in previous years that came in under budget. The funds are available because they are not tied to a specific use.

While urban municipalities, which are dependent on user fees and transit fares to help pay operating costs for recreational facilities and transit, have been hit with shortfalls due to COVID, South Frontenac is in a relatively strong financial position.

“We are fortunate that we were able to allocate this money without having to go to the ratepayers,” said Carbone.

He said that township staff have a “high level concept” of how to allocate the funds, and they are planning to meet with the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation to discuss supports for business, Southern Frontenac Community Services, (which runs the largest Food Bank in the township) and the Community Foundation for Kingston and area, among others, to come up with a more detailed proposal to bring back to Council later this spring.

“Council is interested in providing support for individuals and businesses and for institutions that have taken on extra costs dealing with the pandemic” said Carbone about the three potential funding streams that will be created.”