Fort Erie approves $23.8M capital budget for 2026

The municipality has mostly figured out which projects will be funded with the planned $23.8 million in capital spending next year.

Fort Erie councillors supported the capital budget for 2026 presented by staff, which includes 61 projects. The vast majority of that money, nearly $21.2 million, will be spent on infrastructure services, with the remaining being spread between fire and emergency services, planning, building and bylaw services, and corporate and community services.

No new debentures are planned for 2026, and 2025 marked the full repayment of two debts.

Treasurer Jonathan Janzen did note plans to use debt in future years under the asset management plan, but also pointed out Fort Erie’s debt position remains strong. The town’s debt charges in relation to total revenue sits at 1.7 per cent, well below the annual repayment limit of 25 per cent, and according to provincial standards comfortably within the low risk threshold of five per cent.

However, like most Ontario municipalities, Fort Erie does face a gap in its asset management plan–which looks at needs a decade into the future–to the tune of $29 million.

“The asset gap in funding is widening due to a number of factors,” said Janzen, the continued impacts of recent years of high inflation being one of them.

That gap left Mayor Wayne Redekop “just a little anxious” when it came to plans for park development. While he said he supports parks and understands their value to the community, every time they add to the asset management plan it puts strain on their ability to fill the funding gap.

“I think we need to keep our eye on the ball that we’ve got this large asset management gap,” he said.

The budget includes $666,000 for the Ridgeway Shores Park Development, and another $104,000 for the Crystal Beach East Neighbourhood Park, along with some other park-related improvements.

Councillor Ann-Marie Noyes also sought support for a new spray pad at AC Douglas Park.

“It is an expense, but I do think it’s something they’ve needed, they should have, and there’s a lot of children, a lot of new growth there,” she said.

The project has an estimated cost of $750,000, though responding to some concerns from her fellow councillors said she’d be open to a reduced cost for a spray pad that didn’t have all the bells and whistles.

Staff have been asked to come back to one of the upcoming budget meetings with updated costing for a scaled back version.

Most of the capital budget covers infrastructure costs, with big ticket projects for water main replacements, road resurfacing, and bridge and culvert repair.

Budget deliberations continue on December 3, with the water and wastewater operating budget and user fee analysis, and January 28, when the general levy operating budget will be considered.

Stay Informed

Events, offers, contests, and breaking news, all delivered straight to your inbox.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Subscribe