top of page

Final 2025 budget approved by Amherstburg town council

Writer's picture: Ron GiofuRon Giofu
Amhersburg proposed budgets.

Amherstburg town council has officially approved the 2025 operating and capital budgets.


The approvals came during the most recent meeting of Amherstburg town council. That came after two days of budget deliberations in December where council arrived at a 5.12 per cent tax increase.


The operating budget was adopted and council approved the 2025 total own purposes tax levy of $33,746,556 including $32,281,600 general levy and $1,464,956 special capital levy. The capital budget was approved with $13,555,200 in capital projects for 2025.


Director of corporate services/treasurer Tracy Prince said at the Jan. 27 meeting the town is looking at a 5.14 per cent increase, with that depending on changes to tax policy at the county level.


Mayor Michael Prue asked why notices are in tax bills say there was a 5.3 per cent increase, with Prince stating that was a draft figure that went to print the day of deliberations. She acknowledged that number was reduced by council.


The budget passed in a 6-1 vote, with Councillor Diane Pouget being in opposition.


Pouget listed several reasons for her opposition, calling “unfair and unreasonable to increase 9.8 per cent – almost 10 per cent – in a two-year period during these tough economic times.” 


According to Pouget, town council failed to listen to advice from financial experts and claimed there were “too many discrepencies in our financial statements.”


“It has been reported we have one of the highest debts per capita and our reserves are at risk, yet this council continues to deplete our reserves on wants instead of needs,” she said.


Pouget added: “Council was denied our right, indeed our obligation, to vote for or against a large amount of taxpayer money for Open Air for 14 weeks for two years. I firmly believe this action is unfair, unethical and perhaps, improper.”


Pouget believed council was denied the right to accept or deny an outside auditing firm.


“We were advised if we objected, it could lead council to litigation,” she said.

The town is about to enter “the largest debt-load in the history of Amherstburg,” she said, citing “crumbling infrastructure,” the expansion to the water treatment plant, repairs to town buildings and a new town hall.


“Yet we continue to spend on wants instead of needs,” she said.


Councillor Linden Crain said “it seems very, very hard to believe” the town is entering its largest-ever debt-load and wanted clarification from administration. Prince said in 2018, the total debt load was $35.677 million and at the end of 2024, it will be $23.789 million. Prine said the latter figure does not include the debt for the new fire hall and any possible new town hall expenditures.


Residents cannot afford the increase along with paying water and wastewater bills, she added.


“Last, but certainly not least, I cannot support a budget when we took away a significant amount of grant money from ACS, the food bank, the mission and to care for maintenance of a war heroes cemetery to give to the Windsor-Essex Bike Community, most of whom who do not live or pay taxes to the Town of Amherstburg,” she said.


Councillor Don McArthur said he respects Pouget’s opinion but expressed why he voted in favour of it.


“We need to invest in this town. I don’t think you can build a community on ‘no’ votes,” he said.


McArthur said voting against the budget is a vote against the mill and pave program which improves roads people drive on. He said he supports the $2-million project to upgrade a section of Concession 8 North in McGregor with Concession 6 North also on the radar.


“It’s a big investment in rural Amherstburg on our rural roads,” he said.


McArthur said he voted in favour of the budget to pay for firefighters who attend fire calls and accident scenes.


“I’m supporting this budget because these staff aren’t here out of the goodness of their hearts. We have to pay them,” he said. “As much fun as we have around this table, they’re here because they are paid to be here and we have to pay staff. If you don’t approve the budget, staff doesn’t get paid.”


A motion to approve $16 million for a new reservoir at the water treatment plant is part of the budget. He also noted there are investments in parks that are part of the budget and if there is a ‘no’ vote, it is also a ‘no’ vote to those projects.


“This budget makes Amherstburg a better place to live, a better place to raise a family and a better place to invest and build homes and that’s why I’m supporting this budget,” said McArthur. 

Final 2025 budget approved by Amherstburg town council

By Ron Giofu

Yorumlar

5 üzerinden 0 yıldız
Henüz hiç puanlama yok

Puanlama ekleyin
bottom of page