Owen Sound’s 2021 budget approval process is underway as council reviewed a proposed 12.9-million capital program at a special meeting Friday.
More than $8.6-million is allocated for roads and roads resurfacing projects. That includes components of the 10th Street Bridge replacement, 16th Street East rehabilitation and general asphalt resurfacing around the city.
The city’s Director of Corporate Services Kate Allan says a survey of council in June identified roads-related projects as the top budget priority for next year.
The biggest ticket item in the 2021 proposed capital budget is the $5.3-million reconstruction of East Bayshore Road (Grey Road 15) from 3rd Avenue East north to the East Bayshore Road sewage pump station. This project is being funded in part by Grey County.
The city is responsible for the cost of a new sanitary sewer and forcemain, and a new sidewalk on one side of the street.
Grey County will cover road and road drainage costs associated with the project, a city staff report explains. The $5.3-million figure is the total budgeted cost for the project, as the city is managing it and will invoice the county for its share.
According to a city budget breakdown, the proposed 2021 capital budget is funded 20 per cent by property taxes ($2.63-million). Forty-two per cent is financed by grants and external funding sources ($5.41-million). The city is also planning to dip into reserves to the tune of about $3.1-million. Debt financing ($1-million) and water and wastewater rates ($672,000) fund the remainder of the total $12.9-million 2021 capital spending plan.
Upgrades at several city facilities are also included in the capital plan for next year, including roof replacements at the fire station, Tom Thomson Art Gallery and courthouse. The city is also planning to undertake playground replacements at Harrison Park Campground, Duncan McLellan Park and the YMCA/Julie McArthur Recreation Centre.
Harrison Park’s tennis/pickleball courts will be rejuvenated, and a study undertaken in partnership with Owen Sound Minor Soccer to look at the potential for a permanent artificial turf field.
Next step in the budget process: council will receive the draft 2021 operating budget at a meeting on Dec. 3.
A budget public meeting will be held in January 2021.
As for the expected impact on the city taxpayer, Allan notes the target they’re working towards for the 2021 budget is a combined rate increase — including county and education levies — of under two per cent.