Savings used to pay OPP bill
Council decides to take extra $90,000 from reserve
To lower the tax increase for taxpayers this year, Trent Hills council plans to use $90,000 it had set aside for police spending in the future.
During its special council meeting on Thursday to discuss the budget council agreed to the change which will keep the annual increase close to 4 per cent instead of the 4.63 per cent that had been suggested.
Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf recommended the change. Staff had already suggested taking $80,000 from the reserve to meet the much higher cost of police services.
Each year in addition to raising tax money for annual expenses the municipality plans on obtaining enough money for major future expenses. That money is held in reserve. Some reserves are mandatory under provincial law while others are just smart accounting to smooth out expenses.
Councillors discussed shifting even more money to keep the 2026 rates lower, but in the end agreed that since future costs are likely to also be high they should limit what is taken from reserves this year.
Metcalf also raised the fact that the current budget does not put any money aside for the new hospital. He said the next council, which will be elected in October, will have to start dealing with this need.
Mayor Bob Crate said Chief Administrative Officer Karen Frigault to write to Jeff Hohenkerk, CEO of Campbellford Memorial Hospital, to request a meeting early next year so the municipality can get a clearer idea of how much money will be needed.
Councillor Dennis Savery said the municipality will have to consider establishing a reserve or special tax levy to help pay for the hospital. The community must pay 10 per cent of the cost of the building and the entire cost of new equipment, a tally that could be $90 million.
Councillors also discussed whether the municipality will go ahead with reconstruction of Frank Street and Saskatoon Avenue if the county does not build a new bridge. The consensus was they won’t, but that will not affect the 2026 budget. If construction does go ahead the municipality will have to borrow $1.4 million.
Council will hold another special meeting on January 13 to pass the 2026 budget. It is accepting public comments until January 5.
Crate selected county warden
Bob Crate was acclaimed as warden of Northumberland County for 2026 on Wednesday. It will be his third stint in that job. He was warden in 2021 and 2022.
Mandy Martin, mayor of Cramhe Township, was elected deputy warden for 2026.
Crate’s toughest job during council meetings will be corralling Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland whose intensity and energy can lead him to dominate a meeting with dozens of questions and interjections.
A couple of months ago, current Warden Brian Ostrander said he often needs a stiff drink when he gets home after shepherding the councillors through an agenda.
Cleveland and Martin have often tangled and seem to have personal issues that spill over into the meetings.