City of Brantford Council allocated various funding from the 2024 Year End Operating Budget Surplus during their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
With a total of $8,952,964 from the 2024 Year End Operating Budget Surplus, the City’s Finance Committee provided Council with a list of reserves and projects for the funds to be allocated towards including:
- $982,052 to the Corporate Contingency Reserve
- $365,704 to the John Noble Home Reserve
- $1,961,318 to the Hospital Redevelopment Reserve Fund
- $5,343,890 to the Tax Stabilization Reserve
- $100,000 for Civic Centre renovations and maintenance projects
- $200,000 for Arnold Anderson Stadium Washroom and Concession upgrades
As well, it was recommended that funding in the amount of $515,000 to proceed with Robert Moore Park enhancements be allocated from the Tax Stabilization Reserve, and repaid from future proceeds of the sale of lands at the existing Park, and that that funding in the amount of $600,000 for Ada Avenue Closure be allocated from the Tax Stabilization Reserve.
During the meeting, Councillor Mandy Samwell moved to have the following clause added to the recommendation:
“THAT staff BE DIRECTED to explore the feasibility of a one-year Vandalism Prevention and Restoration Pilot Program for small businesses, and report to Council by the end of 2025 with recommendations related to program type, costs, alignment with existing grant programs, potential development of new grant programs, by-law and security approaches, and legal considerations, and THAT $100,000 BE ALLOCATED from the Tax Stabilization Reserve (RF0577) to fund the program, pending final Council approval.”
While Councillor Rose Sicoli and Mayor Kevin Davis, expressed that while they were supportive of the pilot program, they were both unsure about the $100,000 at this time.
Nicole Wilmot, Chief Planner and Senior Director of Planning and Development, did clarify that the $100,000 would simply be earmarked for the time being .
“At this point, the $100,000 seems reasonable based on some other things that were briefly looked at in preparation of this amendment,” she said. “I think that that’s why staff are suggesting that we earmark this now, but ideally we’re coming back with a more comprehensive plan and approach, and budgetary impact that can be considered and discussed at that time. …Often, these programs are considered to be grant based, and that would be an ideal amount of money to maybe begin a grant program.”
Councillor Gino Caputo asked if the program was being designed for both residents as well as business owners, and Wilmot clarified that it could be used for both.
Sless said that while the reality was unfortunate, there was a need for the pilot program.
“Business is suffering, people are getting laid off and we’re not in good financial times. I think anything we can do as a community to help our fellow citizens [is necessary]. I think if there ever was a time to do something it’s now,” he said. “We’re not spending that money, we’re earmarking it, and if, assuming everything works out the way we assume it will, and we approve the program, then we will already have a budget in place that then can be lifted out and to support that program. To me, it makes perfect sense to do it in this manner. It’s too bad we need this type of thing, but unfortunately, the need is there, and I think it’s incumbent upon us to try and fulfill that need.”
Councillor Rose Sicoli then asked to separate Samwell’s amendment into two parts, one for the program itself and the other for the $100,000.
The vote in regards to having staff explore the feasibility of a one-year Vandalism Prevention and Restoration Pilot Program for small businesses, and come back with a report to Council by the end of 2025, was carried.
The vote in regards to earmarking the $100,000 to fund the program, was also ultimately carried.
Davis later brought attention to the surplus itself.
“I think we’ve overlooked what is most critical about the decision making that came to us out of finance, and that is the allocation of another almost $2 million ($1,961,318.) to the hospital reserve fund,” he said. “That’s money we’re taking from the surplus from 2024, and we’re applying that to the hospital reserve fund that we set up about two-and-a-half years ago, and that’s the reserve fund that’s intended to ensure that there is money available when the call is made on the City probably eight to ten years from now, to pay part of the local share for a new hospital.”
Judy Moore, the City’s Director of Finance then confirmed there was now just over $18 million in the Hospital Redevelopment Reserve Fund.
“I think that’s good news for our community,” said Davis. “I think the fact that the municipalities, both ourselves and the County of Brant, are now setting aside significant sums of money, sends an important message to the province that we’re doing our part. We just ask the hospital officials and province to do their part in making sure we have a new hospital as soon as possible.”
The vote to receive the report and approve various allocation of funds, was then carried unanimously.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
