BIA on hook for cost-sharing program

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Tillsonburg’s Business Improvement Association is on the hook to address an historical shortfall in funding for the Facade Improvement Program.

Applications to the program assist with updates to buildings in the downtown core and are approved by the Façade Improvement Committee. However, the BIA administers the program and contributes to it 50/50 with the town.

The shortfall equates to the BIA portion of the contribution and mostly dates back to the founding of the program in 2012 and 2013, before current BIA executive director Mark Renaud started in that capacity. Adding to the complexity of the issue is the façade improvement program started without a formal agreement between the BIA and town, and a bylaw wasn’t passed to formalize it.

The report, from the town’s finance department, outlining the issue provided options to councillors on how the funds should be repaid into the façade fund, and the amount of the funds to be repaid. The money was not kept in a separate account.

“If we don’t get this right there will be severe hardship going forward for the BIA,” said Coun. Bob Parsons.

Renaud pointed to 2012 as the main culprit for the missing funds.

“It looks like there was a $50,000 hole that exists at the beginning of the program and the audited financial statements from that time period do not show the BIA’s matching funds contribution,” he said.

Another part of the program funding shortfall was there wasn’t a full contribution from the BIA during the COVID time period as the board of the day gave businesses a break on their contributions.

“Our businesses were struggling and there could have been better decisions made,” Renaud said.

Council passed a motion directing the BIA to top up the shortfall of $63,954 by 2029. There are currently $72,079 of completed façade improvement projects in 2025. It also allowed the BIA paying for the Community Futures Oxford Pop-Up Patio Program in 2020 to count towards the BIA contribution and directed staff to develop a formal agreement that includes establishing a separate bank account for the Façade Improvement Program and both the town and BIA to contribute to it going forward.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy, Deputy Mayor Dave Beres and Councillor Chris Rosehart did not take part in the discussion because they declared a pecuniary interest.