South Frontenac Council - November 21 - Budget Time

Wilma Kenny | Nov 30, 2023

Capital Budget Presentation

In preparation for Council’s day-long budget-setting discussions, Shelley Stedall, Director of Corporate Services and Treasurer, presented a summary of the Capital Budget recommendations. The Capital Budget focuses on major cost items for each of the Township Departments, with recommendations for future capital investments. It incorporates information from department heads, the Township’s Strategic Plan, committees and Council.

Revenue for Capital Budget items comes from: taxation, reserves, development charges and parkland reserves and two grants: Ontario Community Investment Funding (OCIF) and CCBF from the Province and the County (formerly Gas Tax). The actual amounts of these two grants have not yet been disclosed.

Mayor Vandewal asked for Council’s comments and questions following each section, beginning with Corporate Services, which included website redesign, moving to use of the Cloud server for information storage, digitization of Township records. In response to a question about funding resources for the refurbishment of the 14 Island Lake dam, CAO Fragnito noted that the MNR is not willing to help fund this project, “but they will require us to seek permits from them.”

Roads, as always, draw the majority of the budget spending: nearly $8 million. The Long Swamp Road (which becomes Huffman Road into Moscow when it meets German Road and crosses over to Lennox and Addington), drew most comments. South of Bellrock Road, there is a fragile bridge across the upper part of the Napanee River. “That road is still sinking both sides of the bridge,” said Councillor Leonard. “We need to make a decision about the Long Swamp Road,” said Vandewal. Dunlop replied that the road has been closed since 2015, and in 2021, the abutment on one side of the bridge failed, which means the whole bridge would need to be replaced: “Do you want us to look at doing this?” He noted that an archeology study would be mandatory, and because the road runs through a municipally significant wetland, the whole area would need to be studied; “To build a new bridge there would be very expensive.” Mayor Vandewal agreed; “That road would be in the millions.”

In reference to $20,000 set aside for Glendower Hall interior design plans, Vandewal said: “A lot of money has been spent there on ventilation and heating already; I’d like to see the Mills projects completed before we start on Glendower.”        

Pre-budget Approval: SFFR Pumper Purchase

Alex Bennett, Interim Director of Fire and Emergency Services, requested budget pre-approval approval of up to $550,000 for a pumper truck replacement for Inverary Firehall. Upon recent maintenance inspection the current pumper truck showed serious deterioration: “a rotting frame” which cannot feasibly be repaired. Research located a second-hand vehicle which would cost $495,000 USD and be available by May.

In consultation with Township Fire Department officers and similar Fire Services across the Province, the Interim Fire Chief decided to alter the specifications to a commercial-style truck chassis, which would still meet Township Fire Department criteria, and be more affordable; a quote from Dependable (our current supplier) came in at $550,000 and 2 units are available from their production line at the end of December 2023. (Thus, there would be no interruption in service.) Mayor Vandewal asked about rustproofing: Bennett said this is applied to all new vehicles before they go on the road. Council approved this expenditure: it will be drawn from the Fire Equipment Reserve.

Public Response to Budget Survey

An important aspect of the budget process is to engage the community in order to gauge whether the services Council is approving are in line with what the public would like: this year’s Budget Survey had a 3% response rate, which is considered to be a high response rate. ( Total responses this year were 564, up from 265 last year.)

Roads and emergency services were deemed the most important capital projects, and 70% preferred a reasonable or marginal budget increase (1-3%), with most indicating that the increase should only be enough to maintain current services.

The full 2024 budget will be reviewed by Council on Dec 12.

Property Reassessment Question

Councillor Morey asked when MPAC will produce the next property reassessment, and how that is likely to affect taxpayers. The answer was that the Township has no idea when reassessment will occur, but that it won’t be a windfall for the Township: it is more likely there will be a shift between categories of properties. Fragnito said ‘There are a lot of unknowns,” and Vandewal added that he doubted a reassessment would come before the Provincial election.