What you need to know about Stouffville's $14.9-million capital budget
Key items include a ward boundary study and an environmental assessment for the Burkholder Street area
Yorkregion.com
Dec. 23, 2019
Simon Martin
Whitchurch-Stouffville council approved a $14.9-million 2020 capital budget earlier this month.
“The 2020 capital budget is focused on council’s commitment to not only maintain but to increase service excellence for our great community,” Mayor Iain Lovatt said. “This capital budget allows us to maintain our facilities, build new infrastructure and create better services for our residents all while recognizing our fiscal responsibilities.”
Included in the 2020 capital budget is $3.2 million in strategic initiatives, more than $3.7 million in growth-related projects and over $7.8 million in repair and replacement investments.
“Strategic investment will make our government more responsive, make our employees more productive and make our residents’ lives better,” chief administrative officer Rob Adams said. “Through these initiatives, council is investing in critical infrastructure required today, investing in critical infrastructure to manage growth, and investing in critical infrastructure for our community’s future.”
Highlights of capital budget include:
- More than $1.7 million for customer service projects, including upgrades to the town’s website and a new mobile app;
- $2.7 million for enhancing community spaces and parks, including $50,000 for downtown initiatives;
- $1.1 million for community planning, including the development of a ward boundary study and economic development strategy; and
- $8.4 million for infrastructure development and repair, including the Burkholder neighbourhood environmental assessment and the Lakeshore Road stabilization project.
Council also approved partial funding for a downtown Indigenous Interpretive Centre to commemorate the town’s Huron-Wendat heritage and the Jean-Baptiste Laine Site. Full implementation of this project is dependent on additional funds to be considered at the operational budget deliberations in February.
“I am very proud of council and staff for coming together and working hard on this budget. They made many tough decisions,” Lovatt said. “The upcoming year will bring many improvements to our community, all which will help Whitchurch-Stouffville be the best municipality in York Region.”
Capital projects are largely funded through development charges, reserves, developer contributions and grants. The 2020 capital budget report and other supporting documents are available online at townofws.ca/budgets.
Council deliberates on the operating budget starting Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020.
