Council approves first of two tax-supported budgets
HALDIMAND—Haldimand Council approved the County’s 2024 Tax-Supported Capital Budget on February 1.
Like 2023, the budget report’s main focus was increasing investment in capital so the County’s existing infrastructure can have much-needed improvements, along with updates to a “sustainable funding plan” to minimize impacts as replacements take place. Here are some highlights.
In total, the overall tax supported capital plan includes approximately $48.8 million in spending in 2024 and $344.7 million over the 10-year period. In 2023, the budget included $32.6 million of infrastructure investment, totalling $326.8 million over a 10-year forecast period.
“Council approved a budget that ensures we are investing strategically in the infrastructure needed to not only keep our communities safe and vibrant, but continue to deliver County services efficiently, to the standard of excellence our residents deserve,” stated Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley.
Staff put $18 million toward roadway and active transportation improvements, such as continued road reconstruction and resurfacing, gravel road conversions expected to wrap in 2025, bridge/culvert rehabilitations, and other structure-related projects.
Additional roads expenditures include:
The County’s share for the decades-long anticipated Argyle Street Bridge Replacement at $1.3 million, budgeted for 2027.
York Bridge’s rehabilitation project is expected in 2030 and the County’s budgeted portion is $4.5 million.
A $3.4 million increase over 10 years to the Surface Treatment program.
A county-wide Roads Operation Service Model Implementation project that will be done between 2025 and 2027, costing $14.1 million.
Additionally, $250,000 has been set aside to develop a traffic management plan.
Approximately $15 million has been allocated toward the Hagersville Library + Active Living Centre project, which now includes the construction of a full pavilion, a new concession stand, and outdoor washroom facilities in Grant Kett Park. The total breaks down to $6.4 million for the library and $9.4 million for the Active Living Centre. In 2023, with a smaller design, the County budgeted $10.3 million for the project, with replacement of the library at $5.7 million and the new Active Living Centre at $4.7 million.
There is $1.3 million allocated for park and trail enhancements, including upgrades to ball park amenities and the much anticipated River Road Cycling Lane, first budgeted in 2023 and still coming in at $756,000 in this year’s budget.
Just over $700,000 is budgeted for enhancing county arenas, including much-needed upgrades to refrigeration and ice maintenance equipment and replacing other key building elements.
Other recreation budget items include:
Both Cayuga and Hagersville Skate Parks will be replaced in 2026 and 2027, each costing about $1.3 million.
Both change houses for Dunnville and Hagersville pools are planned for 2026 at $850,000 and $750,000 respectively.
Arena parking lot resurfacing is scheduled for 2025 in Hagersville for $500,000 and in 2032 in Caledonia for $562,000.
The Community Halls Building Condition Assessment related repairs is budgeted for $1.7 million across the 10-year forecast.
Additional Cayuga Parks projects are in the works, as a result of public consultation, and has been budgeted at $2.1 million across the 10-year forecast.
Approximately $900,000 has been budgeted for tree conservation and reforestation initiatives, such as the Downtown Street Tree Revitalization Program and general maintenance, removal, planting, and care of urban trees.
The Dunnville Parks Workshop Replacement budget continues to increase. The current facility on Forest Street, circa 1980s, is used by water/wastewater staff, paramedics, OPP, and Norfolk, as well as for storage. It is deteriorating and no longer adequate in size. Previously budgeted in 2019 at $472,000 to be built in 2023, the project was delayed due to the pandemic and has seen significant increases from inflation, pandemic, and industry pressures. There is now $210,000 marked for prep work in 2025, which will finalize the design ahead of tendering construction bids; about $2.1 million is currently marked for construction in 2026. All costs are expected to be covered by grants and subsidies.
Chief Administrative Officer Cathy Case noted that while the focus of the County’s annual capital investment continues to be ‘hard infrastructure’ like bridges, roads, and facilities, there is a critical need for the organization to prioritize investing in technology.
“Expenditures with a concerted focus on updating technologies and software have been introduced into the 2024 budget and flagged as a corporate priority. As important as our bricks and mortar infrastructure is, it is equally imperative that we invest in the tools necessary to be future-focused, work efficiently, be competitive as an employer, and ultimately provide residents with better access to municipal services, staff, and data,” stated Case.
Upgrades with the County’s administration include $380,000 toward major technology upgrades, $148,000 for website and communications-related enhancements, and $235,000 for the rollout of critically important software solutions.
Similar to past years, the total capital levy, funded by property taxes, will increase from $21.8 million to $22.6 million in 2024 – an increase of $800,000, or approximately 1% of the overall 2023 municipal levy.
The total municipal levy for 2024 will be determined once the 2024 Tax-Supported Operating Budget is approved by Council.
The 2024 Tax-Supported Operating Budget will be presented to Council on Thursday, February 29 at 9:30 a.m. at the Haldimand County Administration Building. More information on the budgets can be found at HaldimandCounty.ca/Financials/Budgets.