Residential road budget increase

A quarter per cent increase in the asset management plan levy for the following four years would enhance base funding by around $4.4 million per year and be entirely allocated to residential roads.  

 “The largest kilometer portion of roads in the City of Windsor is not currently funded for the repairs that they actually require,” said Ward 6 Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac.

 Councillor Fred Francis,Ward 1, opposed this motion and presented his argument. 

“There’s sufficient funding within the capital budget to fund these capital projects,” said Francis. “Civil plaza alone is about $6.5 million this year, another $1 million for Windsor work but I do not really see the specifics on Windsor works.” 

Francis asked for council to reprioritize the capital budget and find any shortcomings not only for this year but for the next 10 years. 

 Residential roads along the riverside have not been touched in 75 years, and residents are getting a little frustrated according to Gignac. 

 Francis wants to spend this fund more so on the basics instead of only residential roads. He also presented an argument about increasing taxes. 

 “I do not believe we need to implement a new tax,” said Francis. “In 2019, I said the same thing, or in 2018 when it was implemented. A few short years later, we’ve collected $104 million with asset management and we’re still complaining roads aren’t fixed.” 

 Only Francis voted against the motion about the residential roads, the rest of the council supported it. 

 “Nothing was accomplished in facilities like arenas, libraries, community centers, aquatic facilities, Adventure Bay during the recessionary years without higher revenue like the $2.5 million in increased assessment revenue we now have,” said Francis.  

 “There are roads everywhere in the city that need to be done and this will allow us to start making incremental improvements to the residential road rehab budget, which I think every resident in the city will appreciate,” said Drew Dilkens, Mayor of Windsor. 

 With the support of the majority of council members, Dilkens approved the proposed residential road budget plan.