ERCA approves 2022 draft budget

ESSEX REGION – The Essex Region Conservation Authority has unanimously approved its 2022 Draft Budget.

The budget totals just over $9.1 million, and includes a levy request of $3,540,303, representing a 2.5 per cent increase from 2021. This is equivalent to $23.15 per household, based on a $300,000 current value assessment.

The Authority’s budget presentation responds to the changes to the Conservation Authorities Act included in Bill 229. It includes mandatory program expenses of approximately $5.5 million, including conservation areas capital projects. Non-mandatory expenses total just over $3.3 million. The majority of the requested levy (77 per cent) supports delivery of mandatory services, with the remainder 23 per cent of the levy allocated to delivery of non-mandatory but core recurring watershed programs.

By 2024, the Authority will need to obtain funding agreements with municipalities where municipal support is needed to fund non-mandatory services, which have historically been matched dollar for dollar, if not exceeded.