Every year, Strathroy-Caradoc Council prepares a budget that guides spending in local operations for that calendar year. The budget is generally divided into two parts - an operating budget and a capital budget. In 2021, the overall budget calls for spending of $69,279,581. Of that, revenue from property taxes covers $19,429,456, or about 28.0 percent of the overall total. The rest comes from user fees (41 percent), the federal gas tax (1.5 percent), provincial grants (7 percent), deferred revenue (15.2 percent), development charges (2.3 percent), and various miscellaneous revenue sources (5 percent).
For a detailed breakdown of overall spending in the budget, along with a detailed budget summary, see the budget presentation made to council.
The taxes individual property owners pay to help fund the Strathroy-Caradoc budget are only about half of their total property tax bills. The rest goes to Middlesex County and to the Province of Ontario to help pay education costs. For a detailed breakdown of how property taxes are used, see our tax rates page.
Operating Budget
The operating budget is made up of all the funds spent on day-to-day operations of the municipality. That includes things like police and fire service, road maintenance including winter plowing, salting, and sanding, the operation of infrastructure like sewer, water, and storm sewer service, a wide array of recreational and cultural programs, and various administrative activities such as planning and economic development. It also includes debt repayment on loans taken out in previous years to pay for various projects and purchases.
The total operating budget for 2021 is $36,487,123, or 52.7 percent of all spending. Of that, $17,573,956 comes from property tax revenue. That total is up by $845,423 (or 5.1 percent) from 2020. See the consolidated operating budget approved by council.
Asset Management
Being consistent with past practice, the 2021 budget allocates funds for the municipality's Asset Management Program.
Since 2015, revenue from new assessment, whether from increased assessment on existing properties or assessment generated from new growth, has gone into this fund. Total annual contributions represent about two percent of all tax revenue. The 2021 contribution will be $230,000.
The Asset Management Plan looks at the long-term condition of all municipal assets and creates annual investments to cover their eventual replacement without having to resort to future sharp tax increases. The development of an asset management plan is also a requirement of the Province of Ontario to ensure eligibility for future special project grants.
Capital Budget
The capital budget includes funds to pay for new projects planned by the municipality for the year.
In 2021, a total of about $32.8 million has been set aside for capital work. Of that, $1.86 million, or 5.7 percent, will come from tax revenue, with the rest coming from deferred revenue (32%), water and sewer rates (18.5%), and a variety of other sources such as development charges, gas tax, reserves, and loans. See the consolidated capital budget approved by council.
Below is a list and brief details of capital projects included in the 2021 budget.
There are some projects that are either carried over from 2020 or are in progress. These are included in the list below. They are financed through deferred revenue, which means the funds were set aside in 2020. Unless specifically noted, there is no impact to 2021 taxes from this work.
Note: As the year progresses, there can often be changes in the capital project list from what the budget includes. These changes can result from shifts in priorities, unexpected demands that must be paid for, unexpected delays, and other changing circumstances. So the list of projects accomplished in any given year may not be exactly the same as the list originally included in the budget.
| Engineering |
- Traffic Calming Re‐Designs (McKellar & Queen Streets): Estimated cost $40,000, paid from development charges.
- Saxton Road ‐ Drainage Redesign: Estimated cost $20,000, paid from gas tax funding.
- Head St Paving and Curbs Design: Estimated cost $200,000 ($50,000 from Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund, $40,000 from development charges, $10,000 from sewer rates, $100,000 from drainage rates).
- Stormwater Utility Rate Study: Estimated cost $150,000, paid from drainage rates.
- Wright and Adair St. paving and curbs: Estimated cost $750,000, paid from development charges.
- McEvoy Road Paving Phase 1 (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost $4,517,479 ($584,279 from deferred revenue, $3,633,200 from OCIF, $300,000 from gas tax funding).
- Caradoc St, Reconstruction Phase 1 (Roads, Water, Wastewater) (carried over from 2020): Estimated total cost is $2,909,876 ($229,876 from deferred revenue, $200,000 from OCIF, $780,000 from recoveries, $1.7 million through loans).
- Longfield Street Reconstruction (Design WIP) (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost $120,000 paid from deferred revenue.
- Parkhouse Dr. Design and Construction (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost $4,850,615 ($2,875,615 from deferred revenue, $1,735,000 from recoveries, and $240,000 from loans).
- Mount Brydges Sewer Expansion Program Design ‐ Emerson Design & Policies (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost $199,817 paid from deferred revenue.
- Mount Brydges Sewer Expansion Program Design ‐ Queen St Design & Construction Share (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $2,040,000 ($300,000 from deferred revenue, $1,702,500 from recoveries, $37,500 from sewer rates).
- Lions Park Dr. Development Share (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $77,614 ($52,614 from deferred revenue, $25,000 from OCIF).
- Queen St. Development Share (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost $89,799 paid from deferred revenue.
- Queen & High Streets Reconstruction Design (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $228,822, paid from deferred revenue.
- Drury Lane Reconstruction Design (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $153,757, paid from deferred revenue.
- York Street Sanitary Servicing Design (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $52,413, paid from deferred revenue.
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| Roads |
- Tar and Chip Maintenance: Tar and chip maintenance on various roads, total cost is $600,000 ($300,000 from to be paid from gas tax revenue and $300,000 from OCIF).
- Sidewalks (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $120,000 ($33,752 from deferred revenue, $86,248 from gas tax funding).
- Asphalt Paving: Estimated cost is $150,000 ($50,000 from recoveries, $100,000 from tax revenues).
- Public Works Yards Upgrading: Estimated cost is $200,000, paid from development charges.
- Century Drive Culvert ‐ C19: Estimated cost is $350,000, paid from gas tax funding.
- Fuel System Needs Study and Preliminary Design: Estimated cost is $30,000 ($15,000 from development charges, $15,000 from tax revenue.
- Bridge & Culvert Maintenance (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $51,837 ($41,837 from deferred revenue, $10,000 from gas tax funding).
- Gravel Pit Closure Plan Study (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $9,234, paid from deferred revenue.
- Railway Crossing Maintenance (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $56,891 ($46,891 from deferred revenue, $10,000 from tax revenue).
- Salt/Sand Storage Shed (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $230,719, to be paid from deferred revenue.
- Streetlight Upgrades (WIP Riverview & Helen) (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $45,000 ($10,000 from deferred revenue, $35,000 from tax revenue).
- South Strathroy SWM Plan Study Finalization (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $18,346, paid from deferred revenue.
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| Environmental Services |
- Lagoon Sludge Hauling: Estimated cost is $250,000, paid from sewer rates.
- Pump Station Access Safety Equipment: Estimated cost is $40,000, to be paid from sewer rates.
- Albert St Pumping Station ‐ MCC & Station Upgrades Design: Estimated cost is $40,000, to be paid from sewer rates.
- Pump Station Classification Review and Mitigation Plan: Estimated cost is $20,000, to be paid from sewer rates.
- Strathroy Water Tower Needs Investigation: Estimated cost is $60,000 ($15,000 from development charges, $45,000 from water rates).
- MS3 Water Postchlorination Station Upgrades: Estimated cost is $150,000, to be paid from water rates.
- SCADA Upgrading (Bristol Replacements): Estimated cost is $400,000 ($100,000 from water rates, $300,000 from sewer rates).
- Mt Brydges Waste Water Treatment Plant Interim Flow Equalization ‐ Mill Rd PS (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $102,268, paid from deferred revenue.
- Strathroy WWTP ‐ Process Upgrades (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $5,943,787 ($1 ,143,787 from deferred revenue, $4.8 million from sewer rates).
- Park St Sewage PS Rehabilitation (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $140,000, to be paid from deferred revenue.
- Automated Water Meter Reading Study (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $2,271,561, to be paid from deferred revenue.
- Albert St Sewage PS New Pumps Installation (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $50,000, to be paid from deferred revenue.
- SCADA Virtualization ‐ Eramosa (carried over from 2020): Estimated cost is $74,542, to be paid from deferred revenue.
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| Community Services (Parks, Recreation, Arenas) |
- Aquatic Park - Funbrella (carried over from 2020): To help provide shade lost when a nearby tree came down in a 2018 storm; project is 95% complete; total estimated remaining cost is $5,000, to be paid from deferred revenue.
- Gemini Sportsplex - Back Roof: Total estimated cost is $110,000, to be paid through taxation revenue.
- Gemini Sportsplex - Front Wall Leak: Total cost is $80,000, to be paid from tax revenue.
- Gemini Sportsplex - Skate Tile Green Pad: Total cost is $200,000, to be paid from tax revenue.
- Gemini Sportsplex - Sidewalk: Total estimated cost is $75,000, to be paid from tax revenue.
- Gemini Sportsplex - Generator (carried over from 2020): Phased over 2019 and 2020; total cost is $150,000, to be paid from deferred revenue.
- Gemini Sportsplex - Back Roof Replacement (carried over from 2020): Study is already in progress; total cost is $42,322, to be paid from deferred revenue.
- West Middlesex Memorial Centre - Water Heater: Total cost is $15,000, taken from tax revenue.
- Parks and Recreation - Top Dresser: Total estimated cost is $45,000, to be paid through tax revenue
- Parks and Recreation - Chipper: Total estimated cost is $32,000, to be paid from tax revenue.
- Parks and Recreation - Over Seeder: Total estimated cost is $24,000, to be paid from tax revenue.
- Parks and Recreation - Rotary Broom Attachment: Total estimated cost is $7,000, to be paid from tax revenue.
- Parks and Recreation - Irrigation of Large Ball Park, York: Total cost is $15,000, to be paid from taxation revenue.
- Parks and Recreation - Revitalization of Saulsbury Park: Total estimated cost is $350,000, to be paid through tax revenue.
- Parks and Recreation - Playground Equipment, South Creek MB: Total estimated cost is $125,000, to be paid from reserves.
- Parks and Recreation - Parks, Ward 1 (carried over from 2020): Tree Carving at Alexandra Park (in progress); total estimated cost is $7,796, to be paid from deferred revenue.
- Parks and Recreation - SADC - Update Parks and Recreation Master Plan including a Trails Master Plan (carried over from 2020): Total cost is $63,915, to be paid from deferred revenue.
- Property Management: Lower Level Office Renovations: total estimated cost is $10,000, to be paid from tax revenue.
- Property Management - City Hall HVAC, Lower Level (carried over from 2020): To be completed in 2021; total cost is $117,684, to be paid from deferred revenue.
- Property Management - Soft Scraping, Horticulture (carried over from 2020): Total cost is $23,564, to be paid from deferred revenue.
- Community Development - Wayfinding Strategy: total estimated cost is $50,000, to be paid from tax revenue.
- Tri-Township Arena (carried over from 2020): $20,000 set aside for project to be determined by the Tri-Township Arena Board, to be paid from deferred revenue.
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| Library |
- Library Renovation Project: total estimated cost is $215,000, to be paid from grants.
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| Strathroy Cemetery |
| Columbarium Landscaping (carried over from 2020): Improving walkways and overall aesthetics; total estimated cost is $10,000, to be paid from deferred revenue. |
| Police Service |
- IT - Server/Hardware/Software Upgrades: Total cost is $40,000, to be paid from taxation revenue
- Communications System Upgrade - Radio Tower: Total cost is $40,000, paid from taxation revenue
- Small Equipment Purchase: Office furniture in communications; total cost is $50,000, to be paid from taxation revenue.
- Vehicles: total estimated cost is $120,000, to be paid from tax revenue.
- Communications System Upgrade - 3 Zetrons consoles (carried over from 2020): total cost is $200,000, to be paid from deferred revenue.
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| Fire Service |
- Fire Department Master Plan (carried over from 2020): to evaluate and respond to the needs of a growing community while addressing the requirements of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act and the guidelines established by the Office of the Fire Marshal; total cost is $30,000, to be paid from deferred revenue.
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| Building and Planning |
- Agnes Drive Industrial Expansion Preliminary Work: Total estimated cost is $50,000, paid from tax revenue.
- Relocate DeGroot Municipal Drain: Total estimated cost is $150,000, to be paid from reserves.
- Official Plan Review (carried over from 2020): total cost is $586,350, ($20,350 from deferred revenue, $45,000 from recoveries, $521,000 from development charges).
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| Information Technology |
- Laptop and Work Station Replacements: Total cost is $15,000, paid from taxation revenue.
- Wireless Access Point upgrades Gemini, WMMC, Strathroy Fire: Total cost is $40,000, to be paid from taxation revenue).
- Server Replacement for 2021 (Police) - Reserves (carried over from 2020): Total estimated cost $150,000 ($75,000 from deferred revenue and $75,000 from taxation revenue).
- CityWide Works Corporate Project (Help Desk/Asset Management) PublicWorks: Total estimated cost is $15,000, to be paid from taxation revenue.
- Library/Museum/Admin/Archive ‐ Door Security and Security System: Total estimated cost is $35,000, to be paid from taxation revenue.
- Mt Brydges (Police)‐ 2 Additional Door Security Locks and Data Cabling (911 Dispatch Area): Total estimated cost is $12,500, to be paid from taxation revenue.
- Software upgrade for Stone Orchard Cemetery GIS Module: Total estimated cost is $10,000, to be paid from taxation revenue.
- Document Management and Imaging (carried over from 2020): Total cost is $43,000, to be paid from deferred revenue.
- Point to Point Radio Replacements (carried over from 2020): In progress; three high-speed links for City Hall, Strathroy Fire, and Pike Rd. Wastewater Treatment Plant; total cost is $15,000, to be paid from deferred revenue.
- City Hall Keyless Entry/Security System (carried over from 2020): Upgrade to current system, which was installed in 2004; total cost is $7,500, paid from deferred revenue.
- Security Systems (carried over from 2020): For Gemini Sportsplex, West Middlesex Memorial Centre, Parks building, and road buildings in Strathroy and Mount Brydges; total cost is $68,450, paid from deferred revenue.
- Network Security Smart Card (Two form Authentication) (carried over from 2020): Total estimated cost is $5,000, to be paid from deferred revenue.
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