Scugog Council receives update on 2024 Capital Projects

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

SCUGOG: Councillors recently received a comprehensive update on the status of 2024 capital projects. A report, presented at the General Purpose and Administration Committee meeting, on Tuesday, October 8th, highlighted the township’s infrastructure development and maintenance efforts.

With a focus on sustaining new growth while maintaining existing facilities, the update provided a financial and operational overview of all open capital projects, as of August 31st, 2024.

The report’s primary objective was to inform Council of the progress and financial standing of each project, in line with the township’s Procurement By-law. Updated biannually, this status report plays a vital role in tracking township resources and ensuring transparency in project funding and completion.

As of August 31st, there were 127 active projects, collectively funded at $37.5 million, a slight increase from 2023’s 129 open projects and $31.2 million in allocated funding. This year’s funding included: contributions from Federal and Provincial grants, municipal reserves, and local partnerships, with $11.6 million sourced externally and $25.8 million from Township reserves.

While many capital projects are scheduled to conclude within a year, several require up to three years, due to complex logistics, dependencies on seasonal construction, and external funding approval. In cases where external funding is delayed, projects may be postponed or even terminated. Furthermore, with inflationary pressures on materials and labour, some projects are at risk of exceeding budgeted costs. Any significant budget overruns are to be reported to Council, while minor cost increases will be addressed in future closing reports.

Looking to the future, and citing an increase in expenditure, Regional Councillor Ian McDougall questioned how the progress of capital projects may look a year into the future.

“From 2023 to 2024, we saw an increase, in projects on the books to be completed, from low 30 million to around 37 million dollars,” commented Councillor McDougall. “Are we anticipating in 2025 - this time next year - that number will grow again? Or will more projects have been completed?”

Township Director of Finance, Laura Barta replied, they do expect several projects to be completed over the next year, noting as projects are completed, Public Works is able to direct their energy to other areas. Several major projects around Scugog are nearing completion, as will be highlighted in a forthcoming report on closed capital projects. “I’m confident,” replied Ms. Barta. “I can’t guarantee it, because I don’t have control over the capital projects. I just monitor them, I don’t actually see they move as fast as I’d like them to.”

According to the report, staff have issued Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and are negotiating contracts, a process which can vary widely in timeline, based on project specifics. The report lists each project's total funding, expenditures to date, and current status, providing Council with an informed perspective on township resources and planning needs. Notable funding allocations include: contributions from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF), the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and support from various local organizations and developers.

Finance staff emphasized the importance of this semiannual update, as a tool for strategic planning and accountability. As projects advance, Council will receive further updates, allowing for better comparison with previous years and increased insight into resource utilization.