Woodstock passes 2025 capital budget

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Woodstock residents won’t know what their tax hike will be until March of next year, but the major infrastructure projects to be completed have been approved.

Among the projects ratified was Phase 2 of the Downtown Streetscape Masterplan which includes the section of Dundas Street between Light and Graham Streets. Staff will now prepare the tender documents and once awarded, construction could begin as early as July 2025 after Phase 1 is completed. Eight new outdoor pickleball courts at Cowan Fields were also okayed and work there could start in late summer next year. A new sport-themed spray pad at the Cowan Sportsplex was also approved. It will be built on the east side of the new pavilion between fields one and two and is scheduled to be completed by the end of August.

Unlike most municipalities in the area that table and pass a full budget at once, Woodstock divides its finances into two pieces, the capital portion which is dealt with in December, and the operational side which will be dealt with in the new year.

“We think it makes sense in that it gives council the opportunity to review each piece independently. I think it makes it simpler and easier to comprehend,” said city CAO David Creery.

He added previous councils have said they don’t want to look at budget proposals until they know what the prior year’s expenditures were.

“When we close out the prior fiscal year it takes a bit of time so that pushes our operating budget into February. By the time we can give council quality, end-of-year financial information for the prior year, for them to look and compare against what’s being requested for the current year it’s February.”

Mayor Jerry Acchione also participates in budget deliberations with Oxford County. That municipality just approved its entire budget.

“The city is far easier to follow along, making it far more transparent for even the general public, not just council. When you run lean like we do here at the city, it gives us a far better picture of actuals. What is it costing us to provide a certain service? It’s just a better way to be efficient and purely accurate.”

Phase 2 of the Streetscape was approved after a lengthy debate, something Acchione said he’s pleased with.

“Having a beautiful and refreshed downtown kind of revitalizes everything. I said it during the meeting. In any town or city in Ontario or any part of the world, typically you are drawn to its downtown. It’s nice, safe, well-lit, easy to maneuver around and accessible for all. We don’t have that now. Even if just optically, people don’t find it as comfortable and safe as it really is.”

The mayor added he likes the phased-in approach, saying it is financially responsible.

“I have not had a single business owner come to me and say they don’t want this to happen, in fact, the opposite. They are quite excited.”

Not everyone is as excited as Acchione and downtown business people, including Coun. Deb Tait who supported Coun. Mark Schadenberg’s motion to remove Phase 2 from the capital budget. She is more concerned about the city’s assets not being properly managed than carrying on with the entire Streetscape initiative.

“Our city is at a crossroads and how we decide to move forward will have a major impact for years to come. The asset management report clearly shows the consequences of previous budgets that did not address existing buildings, roads, vehicles and staff.”

She added necessary repairs have been pushed out several years and a growing city does not pay for more infrastructure.

“We have buildings with leaking roofs, roads in poor repair, and staffing levels that are affecting basic services the residents of Woodstock expect. We have already added a number of streets and parks, and three more parks are coming into our hands in the next couple of years. Where is all the money going to come from?”

Tait alleges it will come directly from city taxpayers.

“I’ll remind everybody. Taxpayers are not just people who own homes and businesses. They are people who rent and rent prices depend on tax rates. When taxes go up, so does rent.”

Acchione is one of several mayors across the province to accept strong mayor powers. The legislation shifts authority for the budget to the head of council. A press release from the city stated he provided direction to staff to maintain the historical process where staff prepares and presents the budget for council’s consideration.

“(Thursday) night, the mayor also waived his right to veto the amendments proposed by council, which finalizes the capital budget process for the year.”