More funding for infrastructure
andrea macko More provincial money has come down the pipe for municipal infrastructure, with St. Marys receiving almost $630,000 to improve roads, bridges, or any other project that’s deemed a priority by council.
The increase in funding comes as a result of the government passing the Investing in Ontario Act, earlier this year, which says that any surplus above $600 million for the 2007-2008 fiscal year can go to municipalities to do necessary work.
The province posted a surplus of $1.7 billion for the past fiscal year; the first $600 million goes toward paying down of the provincial deficit, with the remaining $1.1 billion divided between municipalities on a per-capita basis.
“It’s important to have a balance and invest in infrastructure,” Perth-Wellington MPP John Wilkinson told the Journal Argus Tuesday morning. He added that the funding “is not only good in the long term (by improving municipalities), but in the short term as well” by providing construction-related jobs.
Wilkinson adds that the money will be deposited quickly to municipalities, and the only conditions on the funding is that whatever work council decides to use the funding for has to be a priority and construction-ready.
St. Marys Mayor Jamie Hahn said that the funding “will certainly help with our infrastructure,” and that “council will decide where to direct the funds.” Hahn was hesitant to provide a wishlist of projects, but noted that roadwork and upgrades to the town’s sewage treatment plan were on the radar.
He added that it may be difficult to begin projects before winter arrives.
The riding of Perth-Wellington received $12,083,092 in total funding, with $2.98 million allocated to Stratford, $642,723 to Perth County and $321,888 to Perth South.