LETTER: ‘I hope our new City Council is up for this challenge’

Madam: A review of Sarnia’s draft budget shows the proposed new capital spending is about $25 million with about $20 million of uncompleted capital work carried over from previous years. That new capital spending works out to be about $350/person.

Madam: A review of Sarnia’s draft budget shows the proposed new capital spending is about $25 million with about $20 million of uncompleted capital work carried over from previous years.

That new capital spending works out to be about $350/person.

Even if we include (which we shouldn’t) the carried over projects, that would have us at $625/person which is still low compared to other communities.

Compare Sarnia’s $350/person to reported capital spending in 2022 across Ontario divided by population – Lambton Shores $770/person, St. Thomas $1100/person, Peterborough $1120/person, Plympton-Wyoming $1420/person and Belleville $1490/person.

I believe Sarnia has systemic problems in the allocation of its tax dollars combined with low staff and resources available to complete capital projects in a timely manner. These issues need to be addressed. I hope our new City Council is up for this challenge as I believe Sarnia’s future depends on it.

Susan MacFarlane

Bright’s Grove