Those who want course lessons in municipal fiscal stability need look no further than Arnprior Council’s session of June 22nd, and the two agenda items under “Staff Reports”.
Engineering Officer Patrick Foley and General Manager, Operations John Steckly went tag team in doing a review of the Asset Management Practise 14 years-in.
The performance pie charts on efforts to maintain physical asset stability range from a low “Fair” grade at 54% for the Town’s Sanitary Sewer Network- (where older areas of the municipality still have joint effluent piping for both water and waste water networks) in the level of service category, to a good 78 percent for Town-owned Facilities.
That the Municipal Roads network is rated “Good” at sixty percent, will be Steckly’s legacy, were he allowed to brag.
As the Town grows there are some service compromises, such as single-side walkways in new subdivisions.
The other required document was Treasurer Jennifer Morawiec’s Bi-annual Financial update, which shows that despite this being a year of recognized financial hardship nationwide, the Town’s Revenue and Expenses reflect traditional percentages for this time of year- (with only a one percent variance in revenue, at 42 percent, and a two percent variance in expenses, at 60 percent).
It was a severe- and costly Winter.
Winter control budgets are 99% expended compared to 82% expended at this same time period in 2025. (The winter control reserve balance is currently just over $1 million, which would even out November and December winter events should they arise.)
There are 17 properties in Town that have reached the two-year threshold in tax arrears.
By Rick Stow
