A motion asking for changes at the Saugeen Conservation Authority has passed the Committee of the Whole level by Saugeen Shores Council.
It asks for the authority to consider ways of saving money, including possible amalgamations with other conservation authorities, or working closer with muncipalities to provide services.
The motion was prompted out of concerns from the increases in the levy the authority places on it’s member municipalities due to a shortage of provincial funding.
Chief Administrative Officer Ron Brown told council that amalgamating conservation authorities would ultimately have to be approved by the provincial government and having them part of the county level could be difficult because not all county governments function the same.
Councillor Thead Seaman wanted the motion to be forwarded to Queen’s Park.
Deputy Mayor Doug Freiburger — who also chairs the Saugeen Conservation Board of Directors — was concerned that could hamper efforts to get the province to begin providing stable funding to conservation authorities again.
He says the authority is going to be developing a new strategic plan soon and the suggestions for savings in the Saugeen Shores motion will be taken into consideration during the process.
As for amalgamating with the neighbouring Grey-Sauble authority, Frieburger says that could lead to even higher levy increases for Saugeen watershed municipalities because the Grey-Sauble levy is based on assessment, and the Saugeen levy is based on spending needs.
Freiburger says if municipalities and the conservation authority can demonstrate ways of saving money, it might persuade the province to provide more financial support and fulfill its mandate.