Heather Wright/The Independent

A number of Lambton municipalities are voicing concern about the increasing St. Clair Region Conservation Authority budget.
The authority which is financed by 17 municipalities in the watershed, released its 2021 budget. It’s about seven per cent higher than last year.
The authority plans to spend total of $1,345,029 in 2021.
Eighty-one per cent of the money goes to pay employee costs. 
There is also money in the budget – $49,950 – to complete a study on how to fix the Highland Glen Boat Launch and $13,000 for an asset management plan.
The authority is also taking money out of capital reserves to help pay operating costs – a practice widely frowned upon in municipal circles. Officials say $81,150 will come out of reserves to support the everyday costs of the authority. The province also recently cut $150,000 out of the flood control budget which is being subsidized by reserves.
Dawn-Euphemia politicians are voicing their displeasure over the budget. While the monetary increase is not that large – the township will pay an extra $2,519 this year for operating costs – the percentage increase in Dawn-Euphemia is 8.8 per cent. 
Dawn-Euphemia will also be paying for repairs at Shetland Conservation Area. St. Clair owns the park but Dawn-Euphemia pays 90 per cent of the costs of the park. That will cost about $10,800 in 2021.
“It’s not a lot of money but they don’t do a lot for us,” says Broad adding council is asking the conservation authority to keep the budget increase to inflation – about two per cent.
Petrolia Mayor Brad Loosley who is on the authority’s executive, says he will not be supporting the budget saying the increase is too high.
The conservation authority will be looking at the budget Dec. 10.