Downtown Streetscape program doesn't fit into the numbers
By Mark Schadenberg
The 2026 approved
budget for the City of Woodstock is divided into 2 segments – capital and
revenue.
There was no designation of dollars for 2026 for Dundas Streetscape, and I will continue to vote against the idea.
The Capital budget is all about road and bridge improvements (Often including water and wastewater,
but that’s a County portion of the expenditure), planned renovations and / or
additions at city facilities, new building projects and saving for a rainy day
with reserve funds. Items on this list for
2026 were approved by City Council with the range including playgrounds, expanded
trails, new artificial turf at Cowan Sportsplex indoor soccer pitch (Partially
from a reserve fund created previously), upgrades in the technology department
with equipment, new desks where required, replacing obsolete fleet like buses,
perhaps a fire truck (2026 did include a new aerial truck), pickup trucks and maybe a snow plow or accessories for
heavy equipment, but most certainly includes Asset Management plans for every
area of the city especially roads overdue for visits from bulldozers for new
infrastructure including actual roads and sidewalks.
The budgets for
revenue or operating departments for 2026 were approved in early 2026 for all departments -- the museum and art gallery to parks and works, to
technology and communications, police and library, to building permit issuing
to health and safety, human resources, city clerks, management, city council,
and of course financing. Revenue budgets include lines for insurance and all employee benefits.
If a candidate for
Oct. 26 election is at your doorstep, be sure to ask them how the system works
as the 2027 – 2030 projected budgets exist, but are most certainly not approved
as in Woodstock we approve budgets year-by-year. The forecast, therefore, is a
game plan for 2027 – 2030 -- or a pencil prognostication.
(Note: In nearby
London there is a 4-year budget system that is analyzed and re-assessed each
year for tweaking and modifications)
The forecasted years start with 2027 – to be addressed after the elections. Therefore, if you live on Kensington and Knightsbridge (Leinster to Bayswater and to Grosvenor) expect 2027 to be a summer of earth moving and road improvements. Also on the 2027 vision is George Street, Princess Street and Adelaide (Wellington to Riddell) plus more Wellington work to connect these east-west roads, along with Hunter Street from Vansittart to Oxford, and Sloane Street from Clarke to Springbank.
Also, if you
reside on Bain Street, for example, your neighbourhood is slated for 2029, but
most certainly that could be modified as 2028 approaches, but likely will happen
soon as Asset Management is my top priority. In other words, you can not and should
not delay necessary road projects.
What about 2026?
And, if your
curious about 2026 budget items, let it be added that the now-occuring dredging
/ cleanout of the Finch (Trevor Slater Park) stormwater management pond was penciled
in for $1.9 million for 2026, while the soon-to-be-happening Victoria Street
South project (to Main Street) in an extremely important Asset Management
construction item still in this year’s calendar horizon.
All candidates
should know these happenings as it’s public knowledge and easily attained
information. If they don’t know what Asset Management is, don’t vote for them.
Has your favourite candidate seen the expense line for re-paving a large
parking lot at Cowan Sportsplex for $200,000?
Additionally in 2026,
the City ordered a new aerial fire suppression truck with a cost over $2
million, but every year an amount is set aside to replace expensive vehicles so
a reserve fund assists with this purchasing power. Reserve funds also exist for
replacing the Butler Street bridge, the roof at the Finkle community complex, for
this year’s replacement of the artificial turf at Cowan Sportsplex, and several
others.
More money was budgeted
for 2026 for: new plow truck, mini excavator back hoe, guard rail replacements, pedestrian cross-over
system, HVAC equipment at Cowan Sportsplex, roof RTU replacement at library, front
office renovation at police station, portable radios for police force, storage
bunkers at Van Ave fire hall, ball diamond re-development at Brompton, new training
equipment for pool life guards, change room renovation at gymnastics centre at
complex, completion of Cowan Fields cricket pitch, and basement repairs at City
Hall.
Most important on
the list of additions to reserve funds is an account for the Northeast
recreation complex at Cowan Fields. Yes,
another trivia question to ask candidates about. As an aside, the expectations
on this facility are exciting but a community-driven fundraising committee
should be established. It’s interesting to note that many of the Pittock dam
(Roth Park and Day-Use park sites also) improvements have occurred thanks to a family
donation, and the brand new scoreboards at ball diamonds in Southside Park were
also made possible due to a donation of funds from a local family.
The Cowan Park sports
facility could be multi-use with a satellite library also, and maybe a daycare
centre. The current components are 2 arenas, 1 pool, 1 gymnasium, and
corresponding meeting rooms or offices. The Northeast planned complex is the future.
If you’re curious
where Phase 3 of the Downtown Streetscape fits into the 2027 plans? It doesn’t.
Enough spending on a budget line that is not necessary. The Peel Street road
work on the south side of the Oxford Admin building was certainly necessary through the
City’s comprehensive Asset Management Plan.
Video Link: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1089156546951711
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