Image: Huron County Courthouse
Huron County council is looking for ways to reduce the overall impact of capital spending and inflation for the 2023 budget.
During Wednesday’s special council meeting, there were several discussions of how to reduce the need for borrowing for capital projects, the overall levy increase for 2023, and which projects were necessary for the year.
Members of council were hoping overall for a levy increase of no more than 6% for the year, because of the issues that would arise in later years for future councils.
Some projects may be put off for future years in hopes of lower costs and inflation, namely with two projects for roundabouts.
There was a concern that by putting the projects off for the time being, there would be a higher risk to public safety.
There was also discussion of whether to continue moving forward with bike lanes along Highway 83, as migrant workers typically cycle along that road.
The main reason that the road is used for bicycles is because migrant workers need that route as it is the most direct.
While some council members felt that the project should be scrapped, others argued that it was still necessary, and particularly good in terms of initiatives such as diversity, inclusion, and overall being more appealing to migrant populations.
The last project that was a concern on the books was the Gibbons Street development, but overall council was not willing to budge on the need for funding toward that apartment building, because it addresses the need for housing in order to reduce the homeless population by putting them in a safe place where they would be able to transition out of homelessness.
When it comes to the overall levy increase, Director of Corporate Services Michael Blumhagen says that the minimum required levy increase would be around 2.5%.
Council directed staff to look over multiple possibilities for the 2023 budget, and bring it back to the council table.
There is a budget meeting scheduled for March 8th, where the county council will consider all the possible options and make their decision for the 2023 financial year.