The Grimsby Finance Committee met to review economic development results and approve the town’s 2025 year-end financial position and 2026 tax levy. The Grimsby Economic Development Advisory Committee (GEDAC) reported $370 million in industrial investment expected to generate $1.4 million in annual property taxes and about 2,000 jobs, while also asking to report directly to council to avoid delays of “up to two months sometimes.” The committee also approved a major wastewater billing change that shifts wastewater costs off property tax bills and onto water bills based on meter size and consumption. Staff reported a $726,497 surplus in tax-supported operations, alongside a $792,823 wastewater deficit and a $300,156 water surplus, and recommended allocating $100,000 from the year-end surplus to the 2026–2027 community grant program.

Topics Discussed

Economic Development Achievements and Reporting Delays

GEDAC reported securing industrial development tied to $370 million in investment, projected to generate $1.4 million in annual property taxes and approximately 2,000 jobs. One speaker framed the strategy as: “The key thing with industrial development is we want to get more taxes out of economic development so we can take less taxes from the residents. That’s that’s the long-term goal.”

GEDAC Chair Councillor Frank said the committee’s mandate includes “business attraction… growth of the businesses we have and to retain the businesses that we already have… to… foster a vibrant business environment… to create more taxes… and more jobs.” Frank also argued the current reporting structure slows decisions, describing the committee-to-council pathway as “kind of like a red tape situation,” where items “just don’t get up to council fast enough… up to two months sometimes.”

A speaker also pointed to a “concierge program” intended to help businesses navigate municipal processes and “cut the red tape and cut the red tape and cut the red tape.”

Wastewater Billing Policy Change and Tax Impacts

Finance Director Del Monaco outlined a shift to a “fully rate based model” for wastewater. Del Monaco said the town approved a move “in line with other municipalities” so that wastewater costs “will be recovered entirely through the water bills based on factors such as water meter size and water consumption.”

Staff reported that for an average residential property assessed at $442,000, properties connected to wastewater would see a $146 reduction in taxes (total: $6,048), while properties without wastewater would see a $281 increase.

Councillor H said staff have seen a “very large uptick on queries on the water bills.” The town responded by posting updated information on the Let’s Talk Grimsby website and providing an online rate calculator so residents can estimate impacts based on usage and meter size.

2025 Year-End Results, Deficits, and Reserve Pressures

Staff reported a $726,497 surplus in tax-supported operations, a $792,823 wastewater deficit, and a $300,156 water surplus. Public Works posted a $269,000 deficit in contracted services, including $150,000 in higher roads and sidewalk maintenance and $120,000 in winter control overages. Fleet repair costs were $155,000 over budget. Staff attributed part of the wastewater deficit to regional treatment costs that were $389,000 higher than anticipated, noting: “on the wastewater side, we experienced a 792,000 deficit… with our share of regional treatment costs being $389,000 higher than anticipated.”

The committee discussed reserve pressures, including the wastewater reserve and the Fire Station 3 reserve. Staff recommended directing the surplus to the levy contingency and stabilization fund to support the town’s contingency target.

Biodigester Lawsuit Update

The committee received an update on the ongoing biodigester-related lawsuit. One official said: “Initially the lawsuit was asking for $18 million. I believe it has since been reduced to a number less than that. Let’s say somewhere around 10 million I think.” Legal costs contributed to a corporate budget overage that partially offset investment gains.

Community Grants and End-of-Term Reporting

The committee recommended council approve a $100,000 budget amendment from the year-end surplus to fund the 2026–2027 Grimsby Community Development Grant Program.

Members also discussed end-of-term reporting for committees. The clerk said: “We will be presenting a finalized presentable draft to this committee at our last meeting in June… And then we will put those final comments into a version for July for council.” The clerk also noted the time constraint for presentations, with one member remarking they would need to “practice talking really fast.”

Motions

Passed: - Approval of meeting agenda
- Receipt of minutes from March 26, 2026 Finance Committee meeting
- Receipt of minutes from April 2, 2026 Grimsby Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting
- Approval of 2026 tax levy and tax rates (eight-part resolution) — Finance Report 26-11
- Approval of 2025 year-end financial results with transfers of $726,497 operational surplus, $792,823 wastewater deficit, and $300,156 water surplus to/from reserves — Finance Report 26-12
- Recommendation to council to approve $100,000 budget amendment from year-end surplus for the 2026–2027 Grimsby Community Development Grant Program

Attendees

• Councillor Frank (GEDAC Chair)
• Councillor Barazzi
• Councillor H
• Councillor Christie
• Councillor Barty
• Finance Director Del Monaco
• Manager of Economic Development Frank
• Planning and Development Director Kirsten
• Clerk (unnamed)