Item 7.1.1

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January 3, 2020

RE: ESSEX REGION CONSERVATION AUTHORITY 2020 DRAFT BUDGET: 30 DAY NOTICE TO MEMBER MUNICIPALITIES

At our December 12, 2019 meeting, the Essex Region Conservation Authority Board of Directors approved our Draft 2020 Budget for distribution to municipalities; and provide notice that a weighted vote will be held at the Board of Directors meeting on February 13, 2020. Ontario Regulation 139/96 (as amended by O.R. 231/97) requires that affected municipal partners receive a minimum a 30-day notice for which a meeting where a weighted and recorded vote will be taken. The Regulation also requires that the notice be accompanied by the financial information used to determine that levy.

As described in the Draft 2020 Budget (attached), the budget totals $10,576,317 and includes a total levy contribution from member municipalities of approximately $3,386,667. This levy totals $10.49 for every person in our watershed, based on data compiled by MPAC and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, though the actual cost per household of $250,000 decreased by $0.12 to $19.57.

ERCA was able to reduce the projected impact of the budget with confirmed funding related to the Windsor Essex Climate Change Collaborative (WEC3) and the development of a Regional Municipal Energy Plan, continued support from the province for the John R. Park Homestead Community Museum Operating Grant and confirmed funding related to Source Water Protection, Detroit River Canadian Cleanup, and watershed research that will partially offset permanent staff and associated shared costs.

We believe the 2020 Budget strives to strike a balance between meeting the sustainability needs of our region, while continuing to recognize the fiscal realities of our municipal partners. The expertise that ERCA provides is a cost effective way to manage regional environmental priorities. Uniquely, we provide a significant cash return on investment in addition to the programs and services we provide municipalities. ERCA continues to rank in the top 10 of all Conservation Authorities for the programs and services we provide our region, yet our combined levies fund less than 40% of our operations, placing ERCA in the bottom five of all Conservation Authorities and well below the provincial average.

Should you have any questions regarding our budget, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will also look forward to presenting our 2019 Annual Report to each municipality in the New Year.

Thank you,

Richard J.H. Wyma General Manager/Secretary-Treasurer

Shelley McMullen Director, Finance and Corporate Services

Attachments:  Report BD44/19 – ERCA Draft 2020 Budget