EZT council hears detailed budget presentation

By Lee Griffi

East Zorra-Tavistock (EZT) councillors heard a detailed budget presentation from the township’s CAO on Tuesday during a lengthy meeting in Hickson.

CAO Karen DePrest took a deep dive into each township’s spending plan for this year, including the preparation of a new fire station in Hickson and the municipality’s five-year capital plan. The township’s 2025 budget set aside about $225,000 for engineering and site preparation for a new build and the goal this year is to move the project forward.

“This is the year we are hoping to put a shovel in the ground for the Hickson Fire Station,” said DePrest, who added several pots of money will pay for the project.

Just under $1.87 million of the total price tag is coming from township reserves. Broken down, $960,000 will come from development charges, $517,000 will come out of the tax stabilization fund reserve and potentially $400,000 will come from the property acquisitions and disposals reserve.

“We also have $360,000 coming from the fire facilities reserve and, as I mentioned in the operating budget, we increased that contribution to $110,000 to allow for this to come out. And last but not least, $500,000 will come from the asset management reserve.”

DePrest said when each funding option is considered, the construction of the station will be completed without borrowing any money. The total cost of the fire hall is budgeted at $2.275 million.

Coun. Scott Rudy questioned DePrest on the design of the project, asking if the intent was still to replicate the design of the Tavistock or Innerkip stations. She explained the goal is to utilize a design-build model.

“We want to deal with one contractor, not two. We’re hoping if we have to make modifications to the design, we’re not having to vet that through an architect and then have it translated to a construction company. We feel if we are dealing with one proponent, we can effectively make the changes we need.”

Rudy said he wants to see a straightforward design that works.

“We see elaborate fire halls in Thamesford and other places and you wonder why you would spend that much money on a huge, monumental fire hall. I agree with the design-build as a one-stop shop, and I think we want to stick with that idea.”

Deputy mayor Brad Smith said he would like the project to have the flexibility to add onto the station in future years should the township decide to hire some full-time firefighters.

“If we have to look in future years to having a hybrid station where you have some full-time and part-time firefighters, and we can accommodate that if we were to put this in the middle of the township. …That’s my concern going forward, that we have the ability to add on to a fire station in Hickson.”

The 2026 budget is still in draft form, and another meeting is scheduled for March 18 at 7 p.m. in council chambers.

“It will be a public meeting for residents to express their opinions and ideas regarding the budget process,” said Mayor Phil Schaefer.

He added there is a lot of talk in the media about zero per-cent budgets, something he said the township came very close to achieving.

“However, with the winter we had, we needed to address the extra costs for winter control. It’s still a draft budget, but I think it is something that was done responsibly. A lot of work went into this; I can attest to that.”

Schaefer added he participated in the process from the beginning.

“The numbers were changing constantly as we went through them line by line, and I think overall, it’s a good budget to present to the public on the 18th and get their feedback on.”

DePrest said if the budget passes in its current form, EZT ratepayers will see an increase in their property taxes by 3.17 per cent. That, along with Oxford County’s 5.2 per cent hike and a flat rate for education taxes, results in a minimal increase for residents.

“The combined impact of the rate changes on a $330,000 property assessment is $153 combined … or $12 a month. For that $330,000 property, it’s $69.11 annually, so $5.17 a month.”