Provincial grant already accounted for

Roger Varley

MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy announced last Thursday that Uxbridge will receive about $793,000 from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund. However, the grant was already known to local councillors. Deputy mayor and chair of the finance committee Willie Popp said Tuesday the funds have already been accounted for in the current budget discussions and will not impact the final budget.

Popp said the finance committee was told early in its deliberations that the township would receive about $130,000 less from the fund than it did last year. In 2023, the township received $932,000 from the fund: in 2022, the grant was $811,000.

The OCIF grants are aimed at helping municipalities to renew and rehabilitate critical infrastructure.

“Capital projects like improving our roads and maintaining our bridges and culverts represent about 40 per cent of the township’s annual budget," said Mayor Dave Barton.