Construction is underway for the new childcare centre, opening planned for fall 2026
ALMONTE — Council has delayed approval of the 2026 operating and capital budgets for Mississippi Mills‘ new childcare centre after councillors raised concerns that some staffing costs may fall on local taxpayers instead of being covered under the province’s $10-a-day childcare program.
Mississippi Mills council received the childcare budget presentation Tuesday and was expected to move the $11.7-million capital plan and the $4.3-million operating budget to the Nov. 13 final budget meeting. Instead, councillors voted unanimously to defer both motions to allow time to clarify how ongoing staff costs will be funded.
The municipality is building a new childcare facility at 111 Menzie St., opening in September 2026. The building will add 78 new childcare spaces for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Once the new spaces are added, Mississippi Mills’ licensed capacity will increase to 472 children across four childcare sites.
Construction of the new childcare facility began in August 2025 following a ground-breaking ceremony on Aug. 14. The project is underway and expected to open in fall 2026, according to the Municipality of Mississippi Mills website.
“We need to be on the same page with the county. We are not speaking the same language right now,” Mayor Christa Lowry said during the discussion at the Oct. 28 council meeting. “There is an enormous non-capital that our residents are responsible for.”
The expansion requires the hiring of 14 registered early childhood educators, one supervisor, one cook and one full-time cleaner. Salaries account for roughly 89 per cent of the childcare operating budget.
Anita Legault, manager of childcare services, confirmed that not all of these positions are eligible for wage grants under the provincial CWELCC program (Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care).
“The cook position is not covered through CWELCC. That is completely on the taxpayer,” Legault told council.
The operating budget for 2026 includes a $698,790 increase to cover staffing, program materials and food costs related to the expansion.
Coun. Jane Torrance questioned whether a full-time cook was necessary for the number of children enrolled, and if hiring a part-time cook would reduce pressure on the municipal levy.
“You are not increasing by 100 per cent. Why are you increasing by a 100 per cent position?” she asked.
Legault responded that the current cook is already working at capacity.
“Our cook never takes a break. There is not time to do that,” she said.
Legault told council that CWELCC funding for 2026 has not yet been confirmed. “We do not know what it will look like next year,” she said.
The capital plan includes:
- $10.5 million for the new childcare building
- $1.28 million for equipment, furniture and outdoor play spaces
The project will be funded through:
- $2.13 million in grants
- $1 million from reserves
- $3.97 million in development charges
- $3.39 million in borrowing
Using development charges at that level will deplete the municipality’s DC reserve. Council will later decide whether to sell the existing State Street childcare site and apply that revenue to reduce borrowing.
Lowry noted that the financial climate today is significantly different from previous childcare builds in the neighbouring municipality of Carleton Place.
“I think that was a $3.5-million build. This is a different time,” she said.
Council deferred both the operating and capital portions of the childcare budget to a parking-lot session later this week, allowing staff time to obtain detailed funding information from Lanark County.
“We need to have a further conversation so we understand fully what is ahead of us,” Lowry said. “We just need to make sure we all know the same things.”
Both motions are expected to return to council on Nov. 13.
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