An age of austerity arrives in Huron County

Exeter Examiner Editor - Dan Rolph

By Dan Rolph

With Huron County approving its 2026 budget on March 18, it looks like we’re entering an age of tightening purse strings and measured spending.

However, I can’t help but lament what we’re losing in the process.

The county budget came with a long list of programs and initiatives that have been sacrificed to maintain a levy increase of 4.55 per cent.

That’s not to say working to stave off tax increases is a bad thing — it’s not, especially as everyday people struggle to make ends meet — but necessity doesn’t numb the sting of losing a shockingly long list of community building opportunities, environmental protections and support for many groups in the county that improve the lives of residents.

The Huron Multicultural Festival is a perfect example of what’s being lost.

Throughout my career as a reporter in Huron County, I’ve covered countless events. The Huron Multicultural Festival was one of those events that never felt like work. Seeing the impressive display of diversity in rural southwestern Ontario was always an uplifting and enjoyable experience.

I believe we too often settle into a mindset of choosing isolation over connection with others who call this area home. That tendency makes opportunities to learn, interact and grow in a setting that is safe and inviting vital to building stronger communities.

The sense of togetherness that is built by events like the Huron Multicultural Festival is difficult to measure on a spreadsheet, but it’s impossible to ignore their impact while you’re standing amongst an excited crowd as dancers and musicians hit the stage to share their traditions.

Not all of this year’s budget cuts were in events and recreational programming.

The Huron Clean Water Project, which has been around for more than 20 years, was also on the list of programs on the chopping block. The initiative provides funding and assistance to property owners for tree planting, erosion control and forest management projects.

One of the program’s most popular funding streams offers applicants as much as $15 per acre to help in the planting of cover crops, which can protect the health of soil, reduce erosion and improve water quality.

In a region like Huron County where so much of our economy is tied to agriculture, I worry about the impacts we’ll see down the road after losing a program that directly benefitted the environment and secured the future health of the land we rely on.

I may not have a crystal ball that lets me peer into the future, but I think it’s safe to say that life in Huron County will be a little less vibrant, connected and forward-thinking without these programs.