St. Clair Township will pull money out of reserves to repair the Marshy Creek Bridge on the St. Clair Parkway.

The township recently looked at its $6,169,595 capital budget. That’s over $1 million more in spending over 2022.

Mayor Jeff Agar says most of the increase can be attributed to rebuilding the Marshy Creek Bridge which will cost $2,537,238.

That could have led to a nearly seven per cent tax increase. But the mayor says council is not willing to place that burden on taxpayers now, choosing instead to draw money from reserves to pay for the repairs.

That means the capital budget, at this point, will only increase property taxes by about two per cent. Township council hasn’t completed its review of the capital budget yet.

Also included in the budget is the new sound system planned for the council chamber. Administration originally budgeted about $60,000 for that project. The 2023 budget lists it at $120,000.

Clerk Jeff Baranek says the cost of the audio visual equipment needed to live stream council meetings is higher than expected. Three companies have made proposals in the $70,000 to $80,000 range.

But the budget also contains cash to upgrade council chambers which hasn’t been changed since the administration building opened in the mid 1990s.
Baranek says chairs will be replaced and the chambers will be repainted.

There is also $3.5 million set aside to rebuild and renovate the golf clubhouse. The township is planning an addition for a kitchen and washrooms, and renovating the former kitchen for more space in the clubhouse.