Advancing Hamilton’s election agenda
City Hall summit April 13 will give citizens a chance to have input and send a message
Since the late nineties, through downloading and budget reductions by upper levels of government, it has become increasingly difficult for municipalities to provide programs and services. We will be highlighting these issues ahead of the June provincial election at the 2018 Hamilton Summit on Friday, April 13, in City Hall council chambers. The event is intended to generate discussion about the issues and solutions that will help us all better serve our growing community.
This is the second of two articles. The first, which ran in the Spectator March 30, focused on emergency medical services and affordable housing. This article discusses the need for increased investment in infrastructure in Hamilton and increased financial support for provincially shared programs.
Infrastructure renewal
The city is responsible for infrastructure such as roads, parks, transit, cultural and heritage sites, community facilities and the city’s water and wastewater systems.
We currently own and maintain public works infrastructure worth more than $20 billion. Our roads are generally in fair condition, but our inability to dedicate enough funding locally to keep pace with growing improvement needs, along with a lack of consistent future funding, will lead to a downward trend. Although we continue to develop plans to continue to assess the situation, long-term, sustainable and predictable funding will be critical. We need the province to provide additional municipal revenue tools, additional infrastructure investment programs and potential tax revenue sharing programs that result in flexible funding that better positions us to meet the future road network needs of our city.
Current levels of funding for our recreation facilities are unsustainable. Today’s levels only allow for replacement every 200 years, but the recommended time frame is every 50. We will need long-term funding for capital repairs to help maintain service levels. Over the next 25 years, the city’s population is predicted to increase by approximately 210,000. A suitable standard is approximately one recreation centre per 30,000 residents. We need the province to provide long-term funding over the next 25 years for the construction of new recreation facilities. Without significant investment, we will not be able to meet the demands of our growing community.
The city oversees 40 heritage facilities, including museums and historic sites. It is obligated to preserve heritage properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and city-owned national historic sites. Currently, there is no provincial capital funding dedicated to restoration or maintenance of heritage properties; the full cost is covered by the city. There is a shortfall of $2.5- to $3-million per year to cover the costs of facilities restoration, operations and maintenance, and it is addressed through deferred maintenance, unpredictable grant supports and emergency funding. We need the province to establish a grant program and examine other supports for heritage, including expanding and reactivating previous grants and funds.
In 2015, council approved our 10-year Local Transit Strategy aimed at stabilizing the system, improving customer experience, promoting ridership and preparing for future growth. Transit infrastructure investments during years three and four were partially funded by senior levels of government. The remaining years were unfunded and estimated to have outstanding projects costs exceeding $300 million. The Public Transit Infrastructure Fund provided $73 million for transit investment ($36.5 million from the federal level and $36.5 million from the city) and the recent announcement regarding the Canada-Ontario Bilateral Agreement provides additional investment ($511 million over 10 years). Staff will continue to work with upper levels of government to ensure funding continues to meet our long-term transit needs.
Our city investment in water, wastewater and storm water is lower than some benchmark life cycle investment strategies would recommend. In order to stay within budgets, projects are often delayed to alleviate funding pressures. While various projects are underway, including the Woodward Wastewater Treatment Upgrade, Randle Reef, and a number of provincial and federal water initiatives, there is more to be done. Financial support from other levels of government, such as the continued commitment through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, would help us manage our aging infrastructure, address water infrastructure investment backlog and meet future growth needs.
Provincially-shared programs
The city is mandated by the province to deliver certain programs, and the city has limited control over them. They include public health, housing services and paramedics, among others. They total $115 million, or 13 per cent of the city’s net operating budget. One of the challenges is that provincial subsidies are not keeping pace with inflation, and increased service standards are adding pressures to the budget. We need the province to either reduce mandates or provide funding that keeps pace with expenditures.
At the summit on April 13, we look forward to having a thorough discussion of these and other key issues facing Hamilton, and identifying ways we can work together to meet the needs of our growing community.
For more information about the Summit visit www.hamilton.ca/hamiltonsummit2018.