Media Release: Stratford Approves 2021/22 Budget
Posted on 03/24/2021
Image a file folder with word Budget printed on it

For Immediate Release: March 24, 2021

At a special council meeting held today, Stratford Town Council passed resolutions to adopt the 2021/22 Town operating and capital budgets, and the 2021/22 Utility operating and capital budgets. The budget includes the implementation of the second phase of previously announced tax increases from the 2020/21 budget. These increases allow for the balancing of the operational budget with an $800 surplus anticipated. There will be no increase to the Stratford Utility Corporation’s water or sewer rates in the 2021/22 budget year.

“Your Town Council and staff continue to deliver exceptional value for your investment as a resident from the amount of revenue available to us,” said Councillor Gail MacDonald, Chair of the Finance and Technology Committee. “Municipalities on PEI are limited in the sources of revenue available to us to deliver the programming and services required. We rely primarily on property taxes, utility charges and fees to pay for services and infrastructure so balancing the budget against the requests and needs in our community is always a challenge.”

Two of the major investments the Town will make in the upcoming budget year are the completion of the purchase of the Community Campus lands, and the decommissioning of the lagoons and primary work to return the waterfront land back into park space. The Community Campus investment in 2021/22 will also include the annexation of the portion of land located outside of the boundary of the Town, the required rezoning of the campus lands to Public Service and Institutional (PSI) and the rezoning of the two remainder parcels to Residential R-1, along with funding to complete a Master Plan for the property. The decommissioning of the lagoons is anticipated to be complete by the end of June with the current second phase of public consultations on the waterfront property underway now, closing Monday, March 29.

“This is an exciting time for our community and there is still opportunity for the community to be a part of the conversation around the waterfront park,” added Councillor MacDonald. “We have a number of large projects at an early stage of development, as well as ongoing work and investments that are being made in our community. Residents are looking forward to the natural playground opening later this year at Fullerton’s Creek Conservation Park, the proposed active transportation path along Keppoch Road, and of course, to having a safer means of crossing the Hillsborough Bridge when the Province’s active transportation connection opens. The completion of this will mean that we will also be making some upgrades in anticipation of the increased use it will see.”

Councillor MacDonald presented the budgets which include some of the following highlights:

  • Active transportation path on Keppoch Road from Kinlock Road to the eastern Town boundary (subject to pricing)
  • Paving of Trans Canada Trail network from the Hillsborough Bridge to the underpass connection on Glen Stewart Drive
  • Upgrades to the sidewalks at the intersection of the Trans Canada Highway, Stratford Road and Bunbury Road
  • Continuation of residential tree planting program
  • Natural area interpretation signage program
  • Purchase of additional portable speed humps and speed radar signs, as well as exploring additional permanent speed humps in certain areas of concern
  • Trail expansion at Fullerton’s Creek Conservation Park
  • Establishment of an annual business survey
  • Pondside Park parking lot paving
  • Upgrades to Corish Sewage Lift Station and Pondside Water Station
  • Energy retrofits at Cotton Park (subject to funding)
  • Solar panel installation at Stratford Emergency Services Centre (subject to funding)

“The budget approved this evening continues to show investments in areas important to our residents,” concluded Councillor MacDonald. “We continue to be forward thinking with these longer-term investments and this budget is another example of us working together to deliver to the community a balanced budget, but yet one that allows for both the continuation and expansion of various programming and required services for our growing community. We look forward to the upcoming 12 months and commit to working hard on your behalf every day to improve our community and set ourselves up for future success.”

A summary document, as well as the full budget details, are both available on the Town of Stratford’s website at www.townofstratford.ca.

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For more information please contact:
Wendy Watts, Community & Business Engagement Manager
Phone: (902) 569-1995
Email: [email protected]

Budget Meeting Recording
Town of Stratford Budget Highlights
Budget Schedules 2021/22
Draft Budget Presentation, March 8, 2021
Printable version: Media Release - Stratford Approves 2021-22 Budget (March 24, 2021)