MINTO – Department heads, treasurer Gordon Duff and chief administrative officer (CAO) Gregg Furtney presented the Town of Minto’s 2025 draft capital budget to council on Nov. 26.
Earlier this month Duff presented the draft operating expenses and noted the town’s proposed 2025 budget includes a 6.5 per cent tax levy increase.
Minto’s first draft capital budget totals just under $4 million.
The public works department has requested almost $2 million for road construction, storm drainage maintenance, sidewalk installation and more.
Funding for the capital projects will come from reserves and grants.
According to the presentation, subsidies and grants will cover almost $1.8 million, non-tax based reserves $1,1 million, tax based reserves $1 million; and developmental charges (DC) $60,000.
“We can only put DC reserves towards growt-related projects and many of our projects this year are working on existing assets,” explained Duff.
Out of the seven subsidies and grants noted, the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) is the highest
The town expects $780,000 from OCIF, which will be “primarily going towards public works,” stated Duff.
As for the town’s debt, Minto has been decreasing the total each year by approximately $1 million.
The 2025 debt is estimated at a little over $6 million with total reserves at $15.4 million.
“For now we’re in a very good position,” noted Duff.
Anticipated capital projects for 2025 have been categorized into three priority levels, with “priority one” projects including:
- Harriston-Palmerston pool plumbing upgrades;
- Harriston arena perimeter walking trail;
- Palmerston fire hall renovation;
- municipal drain repairs;
- Harriston pumping station and pump upgrades;
- future well site exploration;
- Clifford Lagoon rehabilitation; and
- water tower inspections.
“The priority one projects … are all funded, which is amazing … we wouldn’t have to worry about the tax implications of those projects,” said Furtney.
Estimated capital budgets between 2025 and 2028 will total $34.5 million, with 2026 being the highest at almost $18 million.
Council questions
Mayor Dave Turton questioned where $190,000 allocated for Harriston Industrial Park servicing will get the town.
Duff replied, “The $190,000 is an engineering estimate so it could be lower; it’s very unlikely it’ll be higher.”
The industrial park project is set to proceed in 2025 or 2026.
Councillor Judy Dirksen asked if the town has applied for a grant for a proposed Clifford splash pad.
Town staff assured her they applied for a Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund grant in October.
If successful, construction could happen as early as 2025.
Duff also noted two projects would not move forward in 2025 if certain grants were not successful: the connecting link project on Arthur Street West worth $300,000 and a generator purchase worth $50,000.
The presentation also included the following highlights from the draft budget:
- Derby Street construction;
- White’s Road construction;
- investigating new sites for new wells in Harriston and Palmerston;
- updating the asset management plan;
- installing more GPs and cameras on the town’s fleet of vehicles; and
- completing asset retirement obligations.
An open house is scheduled for Dec. 3 from 5 to 6pm in the council chamber to hear residents’ input on the draft budget.
Staff are to present council with a final operating and capital budget for approval on Dec. 17, the final council meeting of the year.
