Connecting Links, OCIF and development charges on the docket
SMITHS FALLS — Smiths Falls council will ask the province to address declining infrastructure funding and the financial impact of development charge exemptions when Smiths Falls attends the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference (ROMA conference) in Toronto in January.
Treasurer Paul Dowber told council during a regular committee of the whole meeting on Nov. 10, that the purpose of the report was to confirm delegation topics and ensure ministers understand the local financial impact.
“The purpose of this report is to talk about topics for the upcoming ROMA convention,” Dowber said. “Staff have come up with three: Connecting Links funding, the decrease in OCIF funding, and development charges for long-term care homes.”
Dowber noted the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) allocation for Smiths Falls has dropped by more than $90,000 next year.
“The cat’s out of the bag before we get to the budget meeting that OCIF funding is down by over $90,000,” he said.
Two of the three issues — OCIF funding and the development charge exemption for long-term care — affect municipalities across the province. Dowber said that gives Smiths Falls more leverage if they present the concerns alongside other communities.
“There might be an ability to strengthen the message if we are presenting in concert with other municipalities,” he said.
Councillors agreed the province needs to hear that municipalities are losing revenue tools at the same time infrastructure costs are increasing.
Coun. Chris McGuire said municipalities are punished for operating responsibly.
“It is really disappointing that when we do the right things and we are fiscally responsible, we keep getting punished by the province,” he said.
McGuire added that the issue goes beyond grants, pointing to the province’s stalled property assessment update.
“We get a lot of complaints around tax time that we’ve got such a high tax rate, but we’ve got such a low assessment rate,” McGuire said. “There are properties in town probably overpaying and properties that are underpaying.”
Mayor Shawn Pankow pointed to the stagnant provincial infrastructure envelope as another pressure point.
“It’s not just a matter of the formula, the envelope hasn’t changed,” Pankow said. “Costs have increased, and this fund has not been adjusted to reflect that.”
The Connecting Links request, which is tied to the Beckwith Street bridges over the Rideau Canal, will be submitted independently. The OCIF and long-term care development charge concerns will be advanced through the Eastern Ontario Mayors Caucus.
Smiths Falls council supported the delegation plan unanimously.
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