Funding crunch hits two longtime programs at ERCA

Published Dec 23, 2023 • Last updated 7 hours ago • 4 minute read

Essex Region Conservation Authority chief administrative officer Tim Byrne is shown July 16, 2023, at ERCA’s John R. Park Homestead in Essex for the celebration of the organization’s 50th anniversary. Photo by Dave Waddell /Windsor Star

A drop in provincial grants and a decision by the City of Windsor to change how it funds land acquisition by the Essex Region Conservation Authority has left the agency’s draft budget down 12.7 per cent from municipal contributions after leaving out two programs.

And it appears to have spawned debate on whether the city sees activities and acquisitions by ERCA outside of Windsor’s boundaries as a benefit to the city.

Advertisement 2

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Windsor Star ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Article content

The issue stems from a provincial initiative that requires conservation authorities to identify mandated programs, through which a levy is placed on member municipalities based on an assessment formula. Non-mandated programs now require cost-sharing agreements among municipalities.

While seven of nine non-mandatory initiatives have received unanimous support and funding from municipalities, two programs — land acquisition and the agricultural stewardship outreach program — are facing changes in Windsor.

As a result, ERCA’s agricultural stewardship and outreach program will be “paused” for 2024 and the land acquisition program is under scrutiny pending discussions on funding with the City of Windsor, said Tim Byrne, chief administrative officer with ERCA.

Both programs help to preserve the integrity of the watershed, which is “stressed,” he said in an interview after the draft budget was prepared.

The United Nations has said 12 per cent of watersheds must be protected in their natural state to ensure their preservation, but Essex has about half that, he said.

Advertisement 3

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

“You can’t just pave over paradise and think that our watersheds are going to be sustainable.”

Both programs have been running for decades.

ERCA will lay off its stewardship technician and revisit the program with hopes it will return in 2025 with a focus on water quality, said Byrne.

Program grants from senior levels of government, particularly the province, are drying up, said. Byrne. “We’re in a downward cycle with respect to grants, at the moment.”

The position largely services rural areas of the watershed. “Seventy-five per cent of our watershed is rural in nature,” Byrne said. “Unfortunately, this provincial government has deemed our engagement with 75 per cent of the watershed, predominantly being agriculture, is not mandatory.”

ERCA approached municipalities about funding for the stewardship program, which costs about $100,000 annually to staff, but Windsor has decided not to fund its assessed share, which would be about 49 per cent, according to ERCA’s formula. Windsor has said it would only fund five per cent of the position.

A city staff report on the issue says only about five per cent of ERCA’s agricultural land is based in the city.

Advertisement 4

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

With respect to land acquisition, Windsor is changing its approach to funding.

Of the non-mandatory funds provided by the city, which totals $439,000, just under $250,000 is allocated for land acquisition.

Rather than providing funds for ERCA to spend on buying land, as has been past practice, Windsor will fund purchases at a much smaller percentage than its assessment.

The city will also hold the money itself in a reserve fund. That amount will be $133,000 next year.

“If they don’t use the same mechanisms (to calculate funding) that we use for the county municipalities … then there’s some potential equitable challenges there,” Byrne said.

That may affect land purchases, he said.

“If a property does come available and we start entering into negotiations, we also have to have the capability to expeditiously get at funds to make offers.”

Grants for programming also require matching funds that are proven to be available, he said.

At a Nov. 27 city council meeting Byrne appealed to the city to maintain its current funding approach to ERCA.

More than 60 per cent the water in ERCA’s lands drains out through various creeks upstream of Windsor’s water intakes and their recreational facilities on Lake St. Clair, he said.

Advertisement 5

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

“That water all drains by your doorstep and in front of your water intakes in front of your recreational facilities,” Byrne told councillors.

“We’re looking at phosphorus transportation rates now in some locations (that are) 200 times over background. We need to be looking at that. There is there’s a great amount of work to be done.”

High phosphorous levels in water can result in algae blooms and excessive plant growth.

Four city councillors sit on the ERCA board of directors which is chaired by Coun. Jim Morrision. They include Angelo Marignani, Kieran McKenzie and Mark McKenzie.

Morrison and Kieran McKenzie offered a vigorous defence of maintaining current funding levels at the Nov. 27 meeting.

McKenzie took exception to the city’s new approach. He said the staff report recommending the changes is “undermining … the process that exists for the way the conservation authority is being governed.”

Both McKenzie and Morrison stressed ERCA takes a region-wide approach to watershed stewardship and that has a benefit to the city.

The city’s new funding approach is a “short-sighted view of how we should approach funding the conservation authority,” McKenzie said.

Advertisement 6

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

ERCA has about $1.6 million available for land acquisition, but that money can be consumed quickly if lands become available, Morrison said.

Interviewed after the draft budget was released, Morrison said the city’s new approach has caused “a little bit of commotion in the county” because municipalities don’t know whether certain land acquisitions will be supported.

He said there is uncertainty whether ERCA could move quickly enough if land becomes available to purchase. “I don’t know what will happen when that opportunity comes forward and I don’t know how we’ll deal with it at the city level,” he said.

The city staff report indicates that ERCA could appeal to city council if more money is required for purchases.

Still, seven of the nine non-mandatory items are being supported by all member municipalities. They include:

Tree plantingHoliday Beach site management and operationsWater quality research and monitoringJohn R. Park Homestead Museum/Visitor’s Center operations and programmingJRPH museum maintenance and preservationCurriculum-based outdoor educationOutreach and community engagement

[email protected]

Article content

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Windsor Star – https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/funding-crunch-hits-two-longtime-programs-at-erca