Nothing was removed from the proposed 2025 Midland budget during the first of three days for discussions.
Heading into the day, the town was looking to remedy a 5.32% blended tax rate increase in the draft budget, with an aim by Mayor Bill Gordon to get it down into the 4% range. The municipal tax rate increase was estimated at 6.43%.
Key items of note for the upcoming year included application of a $30 million provincial infrastructure grant toward water and wastewater services with a focus on growing the southern corner of the town at Highway 12 and County Road 93 in future years, and getting the Midland Bay Landing project underway.
Gordon stated that “the most underrated” slide of the 360-page draft budget was within the water and wastewater services where $37.4 million in cost was whittled by $26.6 million in grant funding, which he said would “supply literally thousands of homes in the community”, adding it was “truly a godsend”.
Changes to development charge funding allowed for eligible projects including a secondary plan for the aforementioned south CR-93 as well as a parks, trails and recreation master plan.
Council heard from the Midland Public Library with a 9.2% payroll increase due to continual phased-in pay equity, citing underpaid staff for years, but noted that $8,000 could be saved including through a large number of unanticipated Tiny Township memberships.
Nearly half an hour was spent on a $60,000 human resources ‘employer of choice’ strategic plan, with Gordon addressing “the elephant in the room” of EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion), which had become a hot topic in the United States over the past week due to actions of the Trump administration.
Gordon, who noted he's a big supporter of EDI (or DEI as it sometimes written), requested staff drive home the need for merit in hiring, to counter resident voices which had told him they were a “woke council.”
“We are predominantly in a very Indigenous area and we have a lot of diversity within our own organization, including gender diversity as well,” said human resources director Jennifer Manicom.
“When we look at the job requirements of every position, you’re always going to have to have the skillsets and abilities to do it.”
Council also debated the costs of upkeep on the aged fire station against a 10-year look to a new facility, and similar for the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre with Gordon requesting staff to address “greenification” within municipal purchasing; town staff replied that electric ice resurfacing vehicles with zero emissions were a huge benefit within enclosed buildings.
Many line items for the tax supported operating items were debated through to the end of the first day, with council deferring decisions on indoor and outdoor signage until the final day.
The second day of discussions are anticipated to discuss service level change requests as well as council committee requests.
Detailed information, timelines and reports on the 2025 budget can be found on the budget and finance page of the Town of Midland’s website.