Kawartha Lakes proposes largest capital budget to date to respond to growth

Kawartha Lakes – At the Special Council meeting on November 26, 2024, Council deliberated the largest Capital Budget in the history of Kawartha Lakes, at $128 million. The Capital Budget is part of the City’s total four-part budget, which includes the Operating, Special Projects and Water-Wastewater Budgets.

Mayor Elmslie commented, “This Capital Budget is about keeping current facilities in good repair while investing in new facilities to support our growing community. We’re investing $51 million on roads and bridges, higher than ever before.”

Approximately half of the Capital Budget, $60 million, is invested in ‘state of good repair’ projects, such as:

• Emily-Omemee Arena Ice Pad System, $2.9 million
• Resurfacing of CKL Road 41, $0.7 million and CKL Road 38, $5.2 million
• Lake Dalrymple Bridge replacement, $4.8 million
• Updated runways at the municipal airport, $3 million

Expansionary projects include:

• Road widening, Colborne Street, Lindsay $6.2 million
• New Paramedics Headquarters, $21.5 million
• Somerville Landfill expansion, $1.8 million
• Affordable housing developments in Fenelon Falls and Minden, $15 million
• Parking, traffic flow improvements and an outdoor ceremony space to the City Hall block. ($500,000)

Adam Found, Manager of Corporate Assets, noted, “This year’s Capital Budget makes a reduction to deferred capital projects. It will maintain service levels, ensuring we have the financial capacity to deal with new capital needs as they arrive.”

Capital cost inflation a serious concern

During Council discussion, background was provided on the levels of cost inflation. Found provided these examples: the cost of the Lake Dalrymple Bridge has more than doubled since 2019; the cost for the new Paramedics Headquarters has escalated from $16 million pre-pandemic to $50 million currently.

“We’re seeing the trend across the board, and all other municipalities are in the same boat. We don’t consume the same bundle of goods that the CPI (Consumer Price Index) is based on, such as food, housing and fuel. Instead, we purchase goods for water treatment plants, roads and airports. These purchases have seen much higher inflation than the CPI, and thus are a great source of pressure on our budget,” commented Found.

Learn more about the 2025 budget:

Read full press release: Council deliberates Mayor’s Proposed 2025 Budget to address community safety and well-being while preparing for growth

Visit www.jumpinkawarthalakes.ca/2025budget for educational videos, questions and answers and a copy of the budget.

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