NEWS RELEASE
GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
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The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) will spend more than $34 million this year on programs that protect water quality, reduce flood damages, protect natural areas, support responsible development and provide outdoor recreation and environmental education.
The budget was approved by the GRCA board on Friday, Feb. 23, 2018. The board is made up of 26 members appointed by the municipalities in the Grand River watershed.
Municipalities will contribute about $11.3 million in general municipal levy to the GRCA this year, about 33 per cent of the total budget. The municipal levy portion is up 2.5 per cent this year, which works out to approximately $10.72 per watershed resident.
Government grants totalling just over $4.9 million represent about 15 per cent of the budget. This includes $800,000 from municipalities towards the Rural Water Quality program. The remainder is primarily provincial grants, which include funding of over $1.5 million for the Source Protection Program.
Finally, the GRCA generates more than $15.3 million or 44 per cent of its own revenue through revenue sources such as camping fees, park admissions, nature centre programs, hydro sales, property rentals, tree sales, planning permits, and donations raised by the Grand River Conservation Foundation (GRCF).
Municipal General Levy Apportionment
The municipal levy portion of the budget is calculated using the “Modified Current Value Assessment” under Regulation 670/00 of the Conservation Authorities Act. Due to the Dec. 21, 2017 decision of the Mining and Lands Commissioner, the 2018 levy apportionment does not include an adjustment for the City of Hamilton, which had been made to the levy apportionment since 2001.
As a result, Hamilton’s share of the total levy has increased from 2.4 per cent to 12.6 per cent and the amount apportioned to all other participating municipalities has decreased by an equivalent amount. Further information about this change is outlined in the Jan. 26, 2018 board report, Budget 2018 – General Levy Apportionment Update.
The City of Hamilton has advised the GRCA that it has requested a Judicial Review of the Mining and Lands Commissioner’s decision. Currently, it is not known whether that request will be granted and if there is potential for adjustments to the 2018 levy apportionment.
Full details of the GRCA 2018 Budget are provided in the Feb. 23, 2018 board report.
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