Barrie Unveils Capital Plan with Projects Costing $2.3 Billion, Despite Regulatory/Inflationary Challenges

On Wednesday, February 1st, the Corporate Facilities and Asset Management Team made a presentation to the Infrastructure and Community Investment Committee at Barrie City Hall. 

Rick Pews, Director of Corporate Facilities and Kelly Oakley, Associate Director of Corporate Asset Management outlined the capital project prioritization and spending priorities for the next 10 years in the capital plan.  

A ten-year capital plan includes $2.3 billion worth of projects, with around $1.2 billion allocated for the next five years. 40% of that will be spent on transportation, water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. 

Just hours before Barrie police’s demand for $4.29 million increase in their budget went unchallenged by the council, Oakley told the committee that “both staff and council agree that the wise use of tax dollars and user fees is absolutely non negotiable.“ 

She told that the city prioritizes spending based on the probability and consequence of failure, as well as the urgency and importance of an asset. 

Pews told the council that there are a number of new building and major renovation projects taking place within the city, ranging in value from $4 million to $170 million. Some of these, such as the Allandale Transit Hub, the Wastewater Innovation Center and Fire Station Number Six have approved funding and are underway. The Infrastructure Project looks after the wastewater process and will move services out of the way so that the overall project can continue.

After the presentation, Mayor Alex Nuttall raised concerns about how to fund new development given economic and regulatory challenges. Bill 23 could cost Barrie up to $10 million per year in development charges. Furthermore, inflation, interest rates, and labor shortages are likely to present challenges for the city.