• Stouffville will receive $1.35 million from the 2025 Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund program (OCIF).
  • OCIF funding is received annually and is allocated to the renewal and rehabilitation of critical infrastructure.
  • This includes capital projects pertaining to core assets such as roadways, water mains, and sewers.
  • Managing core infrastructure assets is a significant responsibility and cost burden for the Town as Stouffville continues to grow.
  • Advocacy efforts are ongoing for additional provincial support to help meet infrastructure demands without imposing substantial property tax increases.

 

The Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund is an annual, formula-based grant designed to support northern, rural, and small municipalities with populations under 100,000. Between 2015 and 2024, Stouffville received a total of $7.57 million in OCIF funding.

In 2022, the Province increased the OCIF program by $200 million annually, resulting in Stouffville’s average annual OCIF support nearly doubling compared to 2021’s allocation of $726,000.

“Our government recognizes that municipalities like Stouffville are essential to the growth and prosperity of the entire province,” Markham-Stouffville MPP Paul Calandra said in a recent press release. “Through this fund, we are strengthening our community’s economic growth and ensuring it remains the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”

OCIF funding is intended for core infrastructure projects included in the Town’s Asset Management Plan. Asset management planning helps municipalities assess the condition and remaining lifespan of key assets like roads, water mains, and sewers. This planning enables municipalities to better understand infrastructure needs and budget appropriately for capital projects.

However, according to the Provincial Government, “existing infrastructure is degrading faster than it is being repaired or replaced [in many parts of Ontario], putting services at risk.”

While grant support from programs like OCIF aid in addressing Stouffville’s infrastructure needs, the municipality primarily funds such maintenance through property taxes. In 2020, the Town adopted a 3% annual capital levy to strengthen its reserves, although that levy was reduced to 1% in 2021 due to the pandemic.

The levy was deferred in 2022 but reinstated at 3% for 2023 and 2024. A third of the raised funds is earmarked for the Main Street Reconstruction project, but last year’s Budget Book noted the rest of the levy’s role in replenishing capital reserves and setting aside funds for aging infrastructure.

The Budget Book also reported that 52% of the Town’s 10-year Capital Plan is dedicated to repairing and renewing existing assets, representing an investment of $102.9 million. Stouffville’s Repair and Rehabilitation Reserves are expected to fund 32% of the capital program through 2033, while external sources like grants and donations, including OCIF, will contribute around 5%.

Despite the capital levy being considered for continuation in 2025, Stouffville faces challenges in meeting its asset management targets. The 2022 Asset Management Plan estimated average annual renewal costs at approximately $11.8 million through 2041, but 2024 saw just $6.385 million allocated to related projects.

Town Council endorsed a September resolution from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) calling on the Province to conduct a social and economic prosperity review. AMO and supporting municipalities, including Stouffville, are seeking additional provincial funding to address budget shortfalls.

The AMO resolution highlights how current provincial-municipal fiscal arrangements are “undermining Ontario’s economic prosperity and quality of life.” It advocates for increased provincial investment in municipalities and their communities to support infrastructure work and growing populations without over-burdening existing taxpayers.

While the Province has provided aid to select cities like Ottawa and Toronto through initiatives aimed at improving their financial stability, Stouffville is seeking similar support. “There’s a need for a ‘new deal’ that Toronto and Ottawa received from the Province for all municipalities in the GTHA,” Mayor Iain Lovatt said in comments to Bullet Point News.

Lovatt also expressed gratitude for the OCIF funding allocated to Stouffville for 2025, saying the $1.35 million “will enable us to upgrade and build new infrastructure in order to meet the needs of our growing municipality, ensuring a bright and sustainable future for current and future residents.”