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After three special meetings, Council of the Municipality of Brockton approved the 2023 Municipal Budget and committed to a number of projects for the year. 

The Council of the Municipality of Brockton expressed strong enthusiasm for reconstructing the Walkerton Tennis  Courts located at Centennial Park within 2023 and provided clear direction to staff on the project timelines and  importance of working with Brockton’s dedicated volunteers and user groups who can also help support through fundraising.

The project is expected to cost $214,000 and will be funded from the Brockton Infrastructure Reserve Fund. 

Council further continued to invest in long-term planning and support for recreation by continuing with a yearly  commitment of $200,000 to a reserve fund dedicated specifically to planning for a new recreational facility. Local  community groups, such as Victoria Jubilee Hall, Walkerton Capitals, and Chepstow Lions Club were recognized for their  ongoing support to the community and Council honoured that support through increased funding, or a decrease in costs  for services, as requested by these groups. 

Along with the commitment to planning for the future, Council and staff found creative funding options to move  forward with key infrastructure projects and necessary equipment while relieving some of the pressures from higher  interest rates on long-term debts.  

The 2023 Municipal Budget also included a welcomed surprise in the form of an increase of $150,442 in the allotment  received through the Court Security and Prisoner Transportation Grant received from the Province of Ontario. In  addition to the Yonge Street Reconstruction and Trunk Watermain Replacement projects occurring in 2023 other key  projects included in the 2023 Municipal Budget include: 

• $450,000 for the replacement of the 23-year old Street Sweeper, to be funded from the Roads Reserve Fund • $150,000 to convert the streetlights along Jackson and Durham Streets to LED with some pole replacements • $330,000 for the replacement of Bridge 0018 Concession 6 Greenock 

The Municipality also plans to offer additional programming development at the Regional Training Centre at the  Walkerton Fire Hall, and better align programming and services to coincide with recommendations from the updated  Recreation Master Services and Facilities Plan. Additionally, the Municipality will be proceeding with a feasibility study to  consider designs for a new recreation complex and potential improvements to the existing arena facility to ensure the  project is grant ready and a fiscal plan is established for facility renewal. 

Chief Administrative Officer, Sonya Watson commented “Brockton faced a challenge coming into the 2023 budget  deliberations because of the frozen property assessments, high interest rates, and a high rate of inflation. The  Municipality continues to provide quality service with a responsible tax rate increase and must balance the needs of our  community related to services and infrastructure renewal in a challenging economy. As Brockton continues to grow,  Council is committed to prioritizing our investments in infrastructure and recreation which are crucial to our community.  The 2023 budget process remained focused on completing essential projects and planning for the future so that the  Municipality can grow in an effective and fiscally responsible manner.” 

A key theme for the 2023 Municipal Budget was finding an appropriate balance between reducing long-term debt and  investing in reserve funds for future infrastructure in the face of higher costs due to inflation. The total levy for 2023 is  $11,483,398 which will mean the average household assessment can expect to see a $188.81 yearly increase or $15.73 monthly. Brockton Council and staff are committed to providing quality service to our residents while recognizing the  increased rates of inflation. By prioritizing essential projects that focus on planning for our future, this allows Brockton  to grow in an effective and fiscally responsible manner. 

Brockton Council and Staff are committed to providing quality service to residents and continuing to invest in our community’s long-term future. 

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source: media release