The Town of Fort Frances received a letter from the City of North Bay regarding the need to reconcile Community Reinvestment Fund dollars, sparking a discussion Monday night about whether or not municipalities will ever get paid by the province.
In its fall economic statement, the province committed to a review of the CRF for 2005 as part of an extensive consultation process to determine how public services can be sustained and adequately funded in the long-term, read the letter from the City of North Bay.
As well, the most recent provincial budget did not specifically address the government’s intent with respect to the CRF—and municipalities are left wondering if there ever will be any more CRF reconciliation, which was last paid out in 2002.
Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft said the purpose of CRF funding is to help offset the costs of downloaded services, such as public health and social services. Without it, the burden to municipalities grows.
“The last time we received CRF funding was in 2002,” he noted. “In 2003 and 2004, the costs have risen. If we receive it from 2003 and 2004, the CRF could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“But if the government isn’t coughing up those dollars, the citizens will be the ones paying for it,” warned Coun. Wiedenhoeft, noting if the town does see tax increases next year, it’s quite possible the lack of CRF is to blame.
“We’ve heard the government may not reconcile CRF in the future,” said Coun. Drysdale, adding the town should send a letter to the province stating “we do take the matter of non-reconciliation seriously.”
Coun. Drysdale said she’s heard of some municipalities drawing up budgets with CRF dollars factored in. But if they don’t get their share of the money this year, residents in those municipalities will be getting a second tax bill in 2005.
Council agreed to receive the letter from the City of North Bay, and in turn write a letter as Coun. Drysdale suggested.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
