Dr. Mark D. Black

(estimated additional 3,500 to 4,000 dwelling units), to permit additional commercial use, and make technical changes to the zoning provisions.

Currently within settlement areas, 6,000 units are either final approved or draft approved with various developers; 6,400 units are forecasted on vacant settlement area lands; and an additional 6,600 units are within approved Minister’s Zoning Orders. This results in a total supply of 19,000 units whereas the 15-year housing demand is forecasted at only 7,400 units.

Any amendments to the original support for the MZO do not require follow up from Council. The Ministry can’t impose conditions on the developer for amendments, as was the case when Council imposed requirements to ensure the development looked after the best interests of Kawartha Lakes taxpayers. The notice allows a Council or other parties to provide comment before the deadline.

The memo advises the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing that the City of Kawartha Lakes Council does not support or endorse any further MZO requests, or amendments, for additional or new residential development outside of established urban settlement boundaries. Council will revisit this position following the conclusion of the City’s Growth Management Study (and associated Master Servicing and Transportation Plans), and once Provincial approval of revised growth allocations for Kawartha Lakes to 2051 is granted.

The Mayor spoke to his memorandum by saying, “It’s not that we are anti-development, or anti-MZO as they were intended to be used. What we are saying is we want responsible development. We want to move forward in a way that all infrastructure and necessary supports are there to support growth as it happens.”

Public feedback on Flato’s MZO amendment can be sent to the Municipal Services Office — Eastern Ontario, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, 8 Estate Lane, Kingston, ON, K7M 9A8 or by email to MSO-E@ontario.ca, referring to O.Reg. 771/21 on or before March 11, 2023.

Petitions

A petition was filed by residents of Norland asking to extend the existing pedestrian sidewalk in Norland from Morrison Street along the West side of Highway 35 to the Norland Post Office. There were 28 signatures on the electronic petition. Council asked Staff to provide a report by June 30, 2023.

Ckl Adopts 2023 Budgets

At the Special Council meeting of February 28, 2023, Council deliberated and adopted the remaining 2023 Budgets, all totaLling $326 million, in keeping with forecasted increases of a 3 percent general tax levy increase and a 1.5 percent dedicated infrastructure levy used exclusively for roads and capital projects. This represents an estimated $32 tax increase per $100,000 of assessed value on residential properties.

Mayor Elmslie commented on the budget. “In a year when we’re seeing substantial increases across the board for goods and services ranging from construction contracts to equipment and fuel, I’m extremely pleased that we were able to hold the line at 3 percent. There were decisions we had to make to keep the tax increases below the cost of living, and I thank staff and our various boards and committees for bringing in their requests with the taxpayer in mind. It is not an easy financial climate for anyone. We will look to future budgets to catch up on projects that can wait until interest rates are lower and we have the ability to finance them responsibly.

Meantime, this year we have a number of exciting projects on the go to benefit the community, from the design of a new Paramedic Headquarters to the finishing touches on the downtown Omemee project. We’re investing in our local parks, arenas and community centres, including a major renovation to the Coboconk Wharf. We’re readying for the growth boom we’re seeing take place, while looking after today’s needs. As always, we’re investing heavily into our roads with almost $27 million going to roads capital projects. I’d like to thank our new Council for their thoughtful study of the complexities of the budget and for working together to pass what I define as a lean budget.”

Operating Budget

The 2023 Operating Budget will support more than 200 services. Carolyn Daynes, City Treasurer, noted that the base budget is very close to the 2022 budget. With inflation costs exceeding 7 percent, staff were diligent in bringing budgets down to the 3 percent mark. Daynes pointed out two contributing factors to balancing the budget:

“Enhanced interest income from investment of funds has resulted in an increase in the 2023 budget of over $3 million in revenue. With the prime interest rate increasing, those investments are generating significantly better returns. Growth in assessment is generating an additional $2 million in revenue.”

With regard to staffing, which makes up nearly a third of the total operating budget, Deputy Mayor Richardson stated, “We need to continue to invest in staff to retain and attract talent. This is what will allow us to move forward to meet the growth and ensure we have a stable workforce to carry out City services.”

Council Commitments

The proposed budget was supplemented with funds from the anticipated 2022 operating budget surplus:

• An additional $1 million contribution to the Ross Memorial Hospital to support its active capital campaign.

• Council committed to establishing a grant fund to support local arts and cultural organizations for their operating requirements. In addition to that fund, a one-time $200,000 fund will be established to support community groups and will be modeled after successful pandemic recovery funding programs implemented in past years. The options and recommendations for both funding programs will be provided later this year.

• Funding was also approved for the Kawartha Lakes Museum and Archives, Kawartha Lakes Art Gallery, Chambers of Commerce and the Lindsay Downtown Business Improvement Association.

Water-wastewater Budget

The Capital and Operating portions of the Water-

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”