Blake Ellis/The Independent

Enniskillen Township taxpayers are facing a 6.13 per cent tax increase and for the first time in recent memory, the township is taking on debt to help pay for capital projects.

Enniskillen Township has passed its $5.8 million budget for 2026.

That includes the biggest capital expense being the replacement of the Black Creek Bridge on Marthaville Road, coming in at $2.6 million.

This is the first time in recent year’s Enniskillen will take on debt and has authorized a $2.5 million line of credit, in part, to cover $750,000 for the Black Creek Bridge construction.

Funding from grants this year will be used for the bridge construction, including $364,200 from the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund, $92,519 from the gas tax revenue and $398,858 from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund.

Among other capital work this year, there was $190,000 put aside for municipal drainage assessments, $35,000 for a replacement of a lawn mower, $20,000 for half of the Gum Bed Line project Enniskillen will be undertaking with the Village of Oil Springs and $15,000 for a replacement of a tractor.

Looking at the township’s property tax revenue, Councillor Tim Williams noticed the amount collected for commercial and industrial properties was less than four percent of the total revenue.

Enniskillen’s Administrator-Clerk Christine Poland said the township has very little commercial and industrial assessment. Most of the properties are farm valued, which is assessed at 25 per cent of the residential rates.

Williams also mentioned the financial differences needed to operate the township’s two fire departments.

Among the fire department budgets, Enniskillen will be contributing $270,183 to the Petrolia and North Enniskillen Fire Department – 40 percent of the department’s budget. The township also pays $219,720 – 78 percent – of the Oil Springs and South Enniskillen Fire Department budget.

And there are more cost issues to come in 2027 but some could be solved with provincial funding.

Poland said the municipality will need to look at increasing rates for the Oil City sewer budget in 2027. Starting in 2029, there was over $80,000 in reserves for the Oil City sewer system, but by the end of 2025, it has dropped to $28,000, she said.

The lagoon has had to be discharged twice a year due to the amount of rain the area has been experiencing, said Poland, adding costs have increased. A new pump that cost $4,500 in 2018, it now costs $9,500.

Mayor Kevin Marriott said the push to build more homes in urban settlement areas, like Oil City, might lead to some funding for the system. Marriott attended the Western Warden’s meeting in early May at Queen’s Park and had the opportunity to speak to Thornhill MPP Laura Smith, the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack.

Marriott told her there might be an opportunity to increase housing at Oil City, but the lagoon is outdated, preventing this expansion.

Smith promised to come to Oil City and check out the situation.

When Marriott was asked by Smith how much would be needed to expand the lagoon, Marriott told her let’s start at $1 million.

Smith has confirmed with Marriott she will visit to Oil City, soon.