Municipal officials are mulling over potential capital costs over the next few years.
Considering inflation and increased costs, Chatham-Kent is looking at possibly spending an estimated $2 billion on capital infrastructure projects over the next 10 years.
Chatham-Kent is looking at several big-ticket items in the future, including upgrading Wallaceburg’s water treatment plant.
Gord Quinton, Chatham-Kent’s Chief Financial Officer says the PUC master plan calls for $500 million in projects in the next decade.
On the municipal capital projects side, Quinton estimates spending possibly $750-million, and with planning for inflation and other rising costs, he estimated it will be closer to a billion dollars over the next 10 years. Adding in growth items, Quinton said it could see an additional $250-million spent.
That money has to come from somewhere, either from municipal taxes or development charges for municipal capital projects. For PUC infrastructure it could mean development charges or increased water and wastewater rates.
There is a possibility of money coming in from higher levels of government to help out, but Quinton said there are no guarantees that will happen.
