Q & A - Councillor Candidate - Saurabh Katara
(1) How would you advocate for affordable taxes while maintaining an adequate level of service for residents?
Keeping taxes affordable while maintaining services requires disciplined budgeting, not an election-time promise about a number before the full budget is known. My education and background in finance have taught me to look beyond the upfront price and understand long-term commitments.
I would begin by protecting core services and infrastructure, separating unavoidable obligations from discretionary spending, and examining budget requests for their full lifecycle cost, service impact and measurable value. I would scrutinize duplication, project scope and lower-priority spending, while considering grants, partnerships and other funding tools where they make sense. Development charges should also recover eligible growth-related costs so existing taxpayers are not carrying an unfair share.
I would support clear service standards and public performance reporting so residents can see what the Town intends to deliver, what it costs and where improvement is needed. If a tax increase is necessary, residents deserve a clear explanation of why and what they will receive. My goal is predictable, responsible taxation and reliable services, supported by evidence and long-term planning.
(2) What does “responsible growth” mean to you and how does growth in the commercial/industrial sectors factor into that?
Responsible growth means ensuring that development does not outpace the infrastructure and community services needed to support it. My background in strategy and planning has taught me that growth decisions must consider both benefits and long-term consequences.
Before approving development, council should understand the effects on roads, drainage, water and wastewater capacity, emergency services, parks and recreation, along with who will pay the initial and ongoing costs. Growth should strengthen Amherstburg rather than leave existing residents with avoidable bills or reduced service.
Commercial and industrial development is part of that approach. It can broaden the tax base, create local employment and support existing businesses. Attracting investment requires suitable serviced land, clear and predictable approval processes, reliable infrastructure and a responsive relationship with employers and entrepreneurs. I would evaluate proposals based on economic benefit, infrastructure impact, compatibility with surrounding areas and long-term value. Responsible growth is not about automatically approving or opposing development. It is about welcoming the right investment while ensuring Amherstburg can support it financially, physically and environmentally.
(3) How would you balance protecting heritage attributes of Amherstburg against the growth of the town?
Heritage protection and responsible growth should reinforce one another. Amherstburg’s historic character is part of our identity, quality of life and economic appeal, and important heritage assets deserve thoughtful stewardship.
Before a major decision, Council should understand a property’s heritage significance, condition, potential uses, rehabilitation costs and relationship to the surrounding area. I would first consider adaptive reuse, grants, partnerships and private investment that can preserve heritage features while giving the property a viable long-term purpose. New development can also respect historic streetscapes through appropriate scale, materials and placement.
For Town-owned heritage assets such as Belle Vue, I have said the answer should not be an open-ended burden on taxpayers or a rushed sale without protections. Any path forward should include a credible long-term use, realistic financing, heritage safeguards, accessibility and public benefit. Council should hear from the Belle Vue Conservancy and donors, and residents should receive clear information about the costs, alternatives and consequences before Council decides. My objective is to protect what makes Amherstburg distinctive while allowing well-planned growth.
(4) What police service is best for Amherstburg at this time and how would you advocate for it?
The Town has already begun work on policing options. Windsor City Council voted to end the current agreement, which expires December 31, 2028, and the options being explored in the Town’s public updates are contracting with the OPP or re-establishing an Amherstburg police service.
I would not declare either option the best until Council receives the final information needed for a fair comparison. That comparison should include total operating and transition costs, frontline staffing, response capacity, local presence, specialized services, governance and accountability, and equipment and facility requirements.
The next Council may need to make this decision, and it has the authority to revisit previous direction. If Windsor offered a credible written proposal, I would consider it alongside the other options rather than reject it without review. Public safety must come first, but residents deserve to see the costs, service levels and tradeoffs in plain language before Council votes. I would support the option that provides reliable, accountable policing at a cost Amherstburg can sustain.
(5) What is the best way to present Open Air Weekends (if at all)?
I support continuing Open Air Weekends, but supporting the program does not require preserving every element indefinitely.
The Town’s 2024 business review documented differing experiences, and my conversations with downtown residents have reinforced that. Some residents value the atmosphere, activity and community events and want Open Air kept as it is. Others experience repeated street closures, congestion, parking pressure and disruption and would prefer a reduced frequency. Both perspectives are legitimate and should inform the decision.
The best approach is to retain Open Air while reviewing its frequency, footprint, hours and programming using the municipal cost, visitor activity, business impacts, accessibility, parking and traffic impacts, and feedback from downtown residents. Any changes should preserve what makes the program successful while reducing avoidable disruption.
My position is to continue Open Air and make practical adjustments where the evidence supports them, rather than promise either an unchanged schedule or a predetermined reduction. I will come prepared, test the numbers and support the format that delivers the strongest overall value for downtown businesses, residents, visitors and taxpayers.
(6) What goals do you have to move the town forward over the next four years?
Over the next four years, my goal is to help Amherstburg become stronger while remaining a community where people at every stage of life can see a future. My education and experience in finance, strategy, planning and leadership shape how I would approach that responsibility.
I would focus on four priorities: responsible finances and taxpayer value; economic development and local opportunity; responsible growth and infrastructure; and transparent, accountable decisions. That means protecting essential services, considering full lifecycle costs, aligning development with infrastructure capacity, supporting existing businesses and attracting appropriate commercial and industrial investment.
I would also advocate for service standards and public performance reporting so residents can see what the Town intends to deliver, what results it is achieving and where improvement is needed. Personally, I would provide regular public updates after Council meetings explaining significant decisions, how I voted and why.
I cannot guarantee outcomes that depend on budgets, staff reports or the full Council. What I can commit to is preparation, independent judgment, thoughtful questions and an honest explanation of my decisions.
Q & A - Councillor Candidate - Saurabh Katara
Comments