Meaford Council Chambers. Photo by Claire McCormack
Meaford’s mayor says the 2025 budget is one of the biggest challenges of the year, which includes a proposed 40 per cent tax rate increase.
Ross Kentner says council is currently in its budget talks and hopes to bring the proposed tax rate increase down by double digits.
“A budget that did not regard the OPP policing service as a core service. This was quite a hiccup for us and I believe that we are dealing with it very well. We have scheduled budget meetings into the new year and I don’t believe it will be terribly long, and we will have a budget with an increase that will be much more palatable,” says Kentner.
Looking back on the past year, however, one of the major stand out moments for the mayor was the renaming of the airport. In September, the Billy Bishop Airport had it named changed to the Major-General Richard Rohmer Meaford International Airport.
“I felt that it was time to change the name for the simple reason that it’s a whole new enterprise really. The airport had been sold by the City of Owen Sound, the new owner had plans but nothing materialized, and finally a second new owner appeared and when I reached out to him, I had all kinds of positive feedback and even contribute to the renaming of the airport,” says Kentner. “It’s a mouthful the new name, but I think it is something that really puts Meaford on the map.”
He adds the municipality also underwent growth in 2024.
“We have new homes being built on both sides of Highway 26 at the western gate to the Town of Meaford. We have the old fire hall restaurant, highly successful enterprise now, it is just a hub of activity,” says Kentner.
Looking ahead to 2025, he says the municipality is aiming to have a by-law in place for short term accommodations.
“We intended to have a by-law in place for this year and it hasn’t happened, so we have our eyes set again on May Two-Four (Victoria Day) weekend and believe that we can get something in place,” says Kentner.
When asked if any more progress is going to be made on the proposed TC Energy Pumped Storage project in the new year, he says it is possible the province will not make a decision during this term.
“The next term is probably closer than we think and is likely where we will hear a decision on whether this is going ahead of not. My concern is and always has been that we need to be ready no matter what the decision is,” says Kentner. “I think we have taken some good steps in the first two years of our term to be ready. I can assure you we continue to be prepared for what may come.”