The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is welcoming more cash from the province to improve services and infrastructure and support projects.
The municipality is getting $21,545,200 this year through the 2025 Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) that was announced in November. That amounts to a 12 per cent boost over last year's allocation of $19,256,500.
Chatham-Kent Chief Financial Officer Gord Quinton told CK News Today the increased funding was very helpful in alleviating some of the pressure the municipality is facing due to the housing crisis and rising infrastructure costs due to inflation.
"Chatham-Kent Council received this information during the 2025 budget deliberations process and this announcement of the return to the pre-2018 level of funding of the OMPF was key in assisting Council in getting the tax increase below 5%, offsetting some of the pressures of homelessness response costs and inflation impact of infrastructure renewal," Quinton said.
The property tax increase in Chatham-Kent was officially set at 4.99 per cent on November 27, 2024.
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Steve Pinsonneault said the funding boost will enhance the lives of residents.
On November 22, 2024, the province announced it was increasing the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund by $100 million over two years, bringing the total funding to $600 million by 2026.
The OMPF is the province’s main general assistance grant to municipalities.
The provincial government said this year's total OMPF funding increased by $50 million to 390 municipalities, adding the funding bump has been targeted to small, Northern and rural municipalities and those with a limited property tax base.
The province said the aim is to assist municipalities so they can provide critical municipal services to people across the province.
“We have heard from small, Northern, and rural municipalities that they need more support to meet the financial challenges they face in delivering services to their communities,” said Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. “Municipalities are critical partners in delivering important local services and we will continue working together to build more homes, support economic growth and strengthen Ontario’s communities in a way that is sustainable and responsible.”
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra said the province will not leave any part of the province behind as "we work together with our municipal partners to create stronger communities."
Minister of Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson noted this funding "will enable small towns and rural communities to thrive and prosper."