Key Conversations: General Committee On Borrowing Funds for Supportive Housing

Barrie’s General Committee spent nearly 12 hours over two nights, passing amendments and deliberating over every aspect of the city’s capital and operating budget; everything from a Sadlon Center sound system to thousands in wastewater fund reductions. 

Key amendment discussions: 

On Monday, Council discussed service partners: the Barrie Police Service, the County of Simcoe and Barrie Public libraries. 

Police budget: cost-cutting amendments fail 

Two amendments to the Police budget stirred conversation. 

Councilor Riepma tabled an amendment to ask Barrie Police staff to report back on a smaller percentage increase; 1.95 percent.

“I suspect that it is possible for the police to fund enough savings to do that, and come back to us so that we can approve their budget without any further ado,” said Riepma. 

That's a request in line with other service partner budget increases, and the percentage increase council requested of the force in the summer of 2020. 

Councilor Aylwin tabled an amendment that would have seen a 5 percent reduction to the budget, with funds sent to public housing initiatives.

“Barrie saw two of our biggest rallies ever in the summer on these issues -- and we saw calls from the public to reallocate this funding to social services to address the root causes of crime.” 

Both amendments were met with vocal opposition: 

“I think it has to be done over time,” responded Deputy Mayor Ward, speaking on the reallocation of Police funds. 

“I don't know whose job it is to have a long-term plan to move away from enforcement and into prevention but I don’t think the way to do it is to take $2.8 million dollars from this year’s budget.” 

Supportive Housing 

On Tuesday night, capital funds were under the General Committee microscope. 

A major talking point was using low borrowing rates to attain funds for social housing projects. It was an amendment moved by Mayor Lehman, which linked into an initiative led by Councilor Aylwin. 

“We have such low interest rates at the moment,” said Lehman. “The savings  are so substantial I believe we should look at funding new or additional projects that we know are going to benefit our community.”

While municipalities cannot run a deficit in operating budgets, they are permitted to borrow money for capital projects, like supportive housing or sports arenas for example. 

Lehman’s amendment would see staff report back with the next steps for this project: a two million dollar commitment on a long-term repayment plan. 

That money would be freed up for supportive housing projects -- aiding a community in desperate need. 

Councilor Aylwin’s amendment concerned city-owned land close to the downtown on Vespra st: “I think we have a really good opportunity to partner with a housing provider to build some supportive housing units.” 

It would see the city spending $500,000 in remediating the soil of the site, which is a former fire station. $3 million would be spent in partnering with service providers to craft social housing on the site -- Aylwin suggested modular housing. 

“It’s an exciting opportunity for us to make a dent in the issue of homelessness in our city,” said Aylwin, referring to the large number of people living rough in the city’s downtown. 

Both amendments passed, meaning that staff will report on how the city could use borrowing methods to fund capital projects and the potential capacity of the site. This doesn't tie the city into putting funds into a supportive housing project here -- it means the opportunity is available to do so.