Heather Wright/The Independent

The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority says a fee freeze imposed by the provincial government is taking its toll and leading to an eight per cent increase in the 2026 budget. 

General Manager Ken Philips estimates the 2026 budget will be about $1.8 million, an increase of $135,411 or about eight per cent. The authority owns 67 properties including 13 campgrounds with a total of about 1,600 acres of property. 

Philips told the board Sept. 18, the cash problems started for conservation authorities in 1995 when the province decreased total provincial funding from $40 million to $7.6 million.

The province also rescinded the authorities’ ability to raise fees for development services. Philips says he doesn’t expect the province to shell out any extra money anytime soon.

Plympton-Wyoming Councillor Kristin Rodrigues called it a “tremendous increase” compared to the tax rate. She asked Plympton-Wyoming council Sept. 24 to urge the conservation authority to keep the increase at three per cent.

Brooke-Alvinston Councillor Don McCabe had a different point of view. “I really don’t care that this may have translated into eight per cent when it is really less than 50 cents per resident – at least in Brooke-Alvinston,” he said. “That’s pretty freaking impressive.”