Paved shoulders on a reconstructed Concession Road 2 North, improvements to multiple recreational assets, engineering work for a multi-use pathway on Middle Side Road in McGregor and more than $10 million to upgrade Amherstburg’s water treatment plant are among the projects identified in the proposed 2023 Budget.
The proposed $56.6-million Operating Budget, which Council has yet to deliberate, calls for a 4.23 per cent increase, which is less than the 6.9 per cent inflation rate for 2022 and which works out to a tax increase of $43.81 per $100,000 of assessment. Included in that 4.23 per cent number is the 1.61 per cent increase Council previously approved to fund the Town’s Asset Management Plan.
The proposed $28 million capital budget earmarks nearly $8 million for roads, culverts, sidewalks and bridges, more than $1 million for parks including $300,000 for Warren Mickle Park, $100,000 for Co-An Park and $81,000 for Pat Thrasher Park, and about $17 million for watermain, sewer and water plant upgrades. About $5 million of those capital dollars comes from taxation with the balance coming from government grants and funding, development charges, user rates and reserves and debt.
For the first time, this Budget includes a 5-Year Capital Budget showing $69.8 million in projects proposed over the next five years, including $3 million earmarked for the Duffy’s property in 2025. It also includes a breakdown of potential capital projects that are not included in that list and the cost should Council ever opt to fund them. Those unfunded projects, including a new Fire Hall, total $12 million in 2023 and $39 million from 2024 to 2027.
There are no increases proposed for water and wastewater rates at this time as the Town has engaged the Ontario Clean Water Agency to review our rates and our linear water and wastewater assets.
Town staff had initially made Budget requests that would have resulted in a 12.16 per cent increase minus growth but the Senior Management Team whittled it down to 4.23 per cent net of growth. The requests that were not approved are included in the Budget documents for informational purposes.
Residents are invited to fill out a Budget survey on Talk The Burg or can pick up a hard copy of the survey at Town Hall. Residents are also invited to an Open House at the Libro Centre from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, February 11.
Council will hold deliberations on the Operating Budget at Town Hall on February 21 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on February 22 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Additional deliberations, if necessary, will be held on February 23 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Capital Budget deliberations are set for February 27 at Town Hall from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and February 28 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Additional deliberations, if necessary, will be held on March 2 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Read the proposed Operating Budget!
Read the proposed Capital Budget!
Proposed Budget Highlights
Infrastructure Services:
- $3.9 million to reconstruct Concession Road 2 North with paved shoulders from County Road 10 to South Riverview. The reconstruction of Concession Road 8 North between County Road 10 and Alma Street is planned for 2024 at a cost of $2.9 million.
- $1.65 million to replace Bridge 3020 on Concession Road 8 North between County Road 10 and North Sideroad.
- $850,000 for the reconstruction of Angstrom Drive.
- $850,000 for the Mill and Pave program to improve Kentucky Avenue, Thornridge Court, Briar Ridge Avenue, Cedar Ridge Avenue and Fern Ridge Court.
- $80,000 for a functional design study for a multi-use trail on County Road 10 in McGregor followed by $350,000 for construction in 2024. Those costs will be split on a 60/40 basis with the County of Essex as the project is included in the CWATS masterplan update.
- $365,000 to replace five vehicles, including a one-ton dump truck with plow and salter
Parks, Facilities, Recreation & Culture:
- $300,000 for new, accessible playground equipment at Warren Mickle Park
- $140,000 to install sport tile and ensure continued use of Anderdon Tennis/Pickleball courts
- $260,000 for a new Zamboni at the Libro Centre.
- $81,000 to improve Pat Thrasher Park with an accessible picnic bench and new rubberized surfacing for the playground.
- $200,000 toward the redevelopment of Co-An Park with Essex paying half of that.
- $50,000 for public consultation, planning and design for improvements to Malden Park
- $75,000 to begin the process of converting the indoor turf at the Libro into a 5-sport gymnasium.
- $150,000 to prepare the Duffy’s site for necessary shoreline stabilization work. Approvals from the Ontario government are not expected until the end of 2023 or early 2024. About $3 million has been earmarked for the project in the 2025 capital budget.
Water and Wastewater
- $10.1 million for upgrades and replacements at the Amherstburg Water Treatment Plant
- $300,000 for an EA examining the expansion of the Amherstburg Water Treatment Plant, which is nearing 80 per cent capacity.
- $1.88 million to replace watermain and rehabilitate Ventor Avenue
- $3.88 million for sanitary sewer upgrades and replacements:
- Alma and Sandwich sewer separation
- River Canard pump station
- George and Seymour sanitary sewer replacement
- $300,000 for an EA of the McGregor lagoons to address capacity issues. (Essex to pay half).
Staffing Requests:
- $77,598 for an Asset Management Coordinator to ensure the Town satisfies asset management regulations.
- $19,921 to convert the Customer Service Representative at Town Hall from part-time to full-time.
- $95,000 for a Senior Financial Analyst to help “address the concerns outlined in the KPMG report and continue to meet the recommendations in the Deloitte report.”
- $107,807 for an Executive Assistant at the Libro
- $105,180 contract staffing request Project Management and Tech Support
- $85,000 for Tourism Coordinator Community Programming
- $117,336 for a Senior Inspector/Plans Examiner
- $45,934 for a Development Services clerk
- $113,265 for a Planner
- $131,844 for an Economic Development/Communications Officer
