2019 could be a 'tight year' for North Dumfries, Mayor Sue Foxton says

North Dumfries is back on good financial footing and Mayor Sue Foxton doesn't want to see them slip up again.

In 2015, council found itself in debt by $750,000.The township raised taxes by nine per cent to make up the shortfall.

"We have spent four years rebuilding North Dumfries township administratively. Now we are solvent, we're strong. Now we've got to look forward and plan and organize how we grow and develop," she said.

She knows money is tight for many residents. Job losses from the 2008 recession are still being felt in the township, she says. News this week that the Bank of Canada has raised interest rates again will affect residents and the townships.

"This is going to be a tight year," she said.

"We will move forward but maybe we will space out moving forward. Maybe that new township office that we want will be deferred another year and we will be saving and building our reserves to help pay for that because the constituents can't be hit with too much in one year."

Need for transit

Foxton says the township has a lot on its plate in the coming four years.

She wants to talk about transit options.

"I wish we could run it ourselves because we'd save a fortune," she said.

While Wellesley is considering an Uber-like option, Foxton thinks there are flaws with that system. Instead, staff have been speaking with the Kiwanis club about options.

"We want the best bang for our buck but we do see that we do need transit of some kind within the township," she said.

North Dumfries is among the fastest growing parts of the region and Foxton says they'll also have to watch their growth in the coming years. With the countryside line, right now the only place growth can happen is in the village of Ayr.

"We are going to see rapid growth, and we have to co-ordinate it and organize that," she said.

The growth must include affordable housing for people who want to buy their first home in the area as well as seniors who want to downsize. She says right now, it costs more to downsize than to just stay in their homes, so people aren't moving.

For the first time, the township will see apartments go up. That should help, Foxton says.

"Housing has gotten out of reach for a lot of people," she said.

Clarifying amalgamation

Along with reviewing online and phone voting for the next municipal election, another issue Foxton is keeping her eye on is amalgamation. The province has said it will be reviewing regional governments starting this fall.

"I want to clarify that," Foxton said.

She plans to meet with provincial ministers to discuss the issues important to North Dumfries. Despite being a smaller municipality, she says she's had a good experience with the provincial ministers.

"I found the ministers, when I was at Ottawa at AMO [Association of Municipalities of Ontario meeting], very approachable and very willing to talk and discuss," she said.

She plans to meet with at least six ministers next month to talk about her concerns.