While the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury has suggested it would save $5.5 million if it becomes a separated city, the County of Simcoe is now arguing that is inaccurate.
In a report discussed during a county Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, the county suggested it would actually cost the municipality an extra $40,000 a year to leave, plus $70 million in road-works costs over the next 10 years ($7 million a year).
BWG Deputy Mayor James Leduc told the committee that spells cost savings and efficiencies for the county, which is a goal of the provincial governance review currently underway.
“It says there is a cost savings if Bradford separates. There is a $70-million capital impact for this county. This report endorses the fact that Bradford should become a separated city,” said Leduc, who is a member of county council.
He said the numbers should be examined, and he asked for a letter of support from the county to be submitted to the Ontario government as part of its review.
“We feel we’re a growing municipality, and we feel we’re able and mature enough to do this on our own. Now we’re asking for support from this house. This house keeps not wanting to let us go. … What’s the issue?” he said.
“The report clearly indicates it’s going to cost us. If the report clearly states that we are a cost to this county, give us a letter of support.”
In order for the county to approve a letter of support in relation to restructuring, however, there are several consultation items it must first complete, according to county staff.
So instead, Leduc proposed an amendment to a motion to accept the county staff report about the costs of BWG separating and have another staff report done on what is involved in the process of drafting a letter of support in this case.
Leduc’s amendment was voted down by the committee.
The report was finalized just last night, and Leduc suggested many county councillors did not have enough time to read it thoroughly.
Coun. Bob Meadows, deputy mayor of the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio, proposed committee defer the vote until everyone had time to read it, but that motion was defeated, with others noting councillors have two weeks to review it before it could be ratified at council.
BWG Mayor Rob Keffer did not speak during Tuesday’s discussions on the issue, but several councillors said there is nothing more the county can do for the governance review because it has already submitted its own efficiency suggestions.
“Each of us has had 30 minutes with the special advisors. At this point, it’s out of our hands,” said Coun. Lynn Dollin, mayor of Innisfil. “It’s not really good use of Bradford’s time … to work on a ‘What if?’”
“I don’t think, with all respect to Coun. Leduc, this is a ringing endorsement of (separation). It is an endorsement of our two-tier structure,” added Coun. Brian Saunderson, mayor of Collingwood, noting the county has been trying to present a “united front” to the province.
He pointed to a line in the county’s report on the costs of BWG separating as a “critical comment” that the report is “not intended to be fodder for further political back and forth on this matter between the Town and the County.”
“I think we leave it with the province,” Saunderson said.
“We agree to disagree on this report,” Leduc responded, arguing the county did not dig into its own operational numbers, rather focused on a StrategyCorp report BWG commissioned on its structural and financial place within the county.
The town got that report last spring. It called a separation from the county “improbable” and stated it was in the “town’s best interests, politically and practically,” to stay and work in the existing county structure.
However, as Leduc pointed out at Tuesday’s meeting, the Doug Ford government was not in charge at the time that report was written.
He also called the county’s report “such a one-sided report it’s ridiculous.”
The report breaks down information from the Town of BWG and counters it with “certainly a more accurate portrayal of the impact (that is) based on more factual and complete information and common practices.” To read the full report, click here.
The report also stated it is “not meant to be final detailed and complete analyses.”
“We respect the Town’s right to entertain the possibility (of separation), albeit based on what appears to be incomplete assumptions and methodologies,” read the report.
Simcoe County Warden George Cornell told BradfordToday in a statement there appears to be “no financial benefit to Bradford West Gwillimbury taxpayers to separate at this time.”
“Instead there is a risk to BWG ratepayers that they would have to shoulder some significant infrastructure costs that would otherwise be part of the overall County tax base if they were to become a small separated city,” he wrote.
“The report concludes that perhaps we should work collectively and wait to see what decisions the Province makes.
“We have a partnership with the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury and we hope that we can use this as a constructive exercise to enhance our relationship moving forward and focus on the collective tasks ahead. There are clearly benefits from the economies of scale in the County, and we believe we are stronger together as a united municipalities.”
