Arnprior Council and Town Administration have teamed up to pass the 2023 Municipal Budget, with a 3.0 percent increase.
Only Councillor Lynn Grinstead opposed the budget document in a recorded vote February 13th.
A Town release didn’t scrimp on lavishing praise for what is being portrayed as fiscal prudence.
An additional $100,000 of funding for the Town’s Rolling Road Rehabilitation program was located above original staff estimates, with a dedicated focus on improving local roads and sidewalks.
The budget also supports an additional contribution to reserves of $602,644 to play catch-up on a formula to achieve future asset management targets as is required.
The 2023 Arnprior Budget recycles over 470 thousand dollars into the local economy in terms of Community Grants to stalwarts like the Arnprior Public Library, Arnprior & McNab/Braeside Archives, Arnprior Airport, Physician Recruitment and the Seniors Active Living Centre.
New this year is $50,000 towards the fundraising efforts for a new CT Scanner for the Arnprior Regional Hospital. That aspect of the document was supported by Grinstead.
Capital projects totalling over 7 million dollars include 1.063 million in Road Rehab for Smolkin, Cranston, Gardner and Maple Streets.
2.1 million to finally fix the street configuration at the Daniel-Edey intersection and signalize it (culverts will be done at the same time).
The CN Trail will get a facelift in Caruso and Legion vicinities to the tune 0f 390k; the Nick Smith Centre sees 300k for a new Pool Dectron Unit, and action on Waterfront Revitalization moves from the drawing board, with 478k spent on Robert Simpson Park Design Plans, and 801 thousand on actual pathway surfacing and lighting.
The Town is replacing its Tandem Axel Plow at a cost of three hundred forty thousand dollars.
By Rick Stow
