Shocked Fauquier-Strickland residents want answers to the township’s financial crisis

Playing null of undefined

Anger as northern town faces financial crisis

Fauquier-Strickland mayor joins CTV Your Morning to talk financial hardships

Northern township to cease operations

News that the Township of Fauquier-Strickland could cease to exist at the end of the month was a shock to residents across the province, but especially to those in the community.

Mayor Madeleine Tremblay said the municipality has accumulated more than $2.5 million in operating debt in the last 10 years.

With all reserve funds depleted, Tremblay told CTV News that the township is operating on credit.

“We feel desperate, helpless,” she said.

“Since January, we did try to cut everything that we could … we even sold (a) piece of land.”

COVID was a tipping point

She said the community is getting less money at a time when costs are rising for services such as policing and social services.

Tremblay and four councillors -- Claude Brunet, Priscilla Marcoux, Jules Gendron and Pierre Lamontagne -- stopped receiving their pay in June.

Tremblay, who has been mayor since 2006, said the financial tipping point came when the cost of a new building at the water treatment plant got out of hand.

“We were in the time of COVID, so that skyrocketed the price by $1 million more,” she said.

Two full-time and two part-time employees have been laid off. The library’s part-time employee will continue working until its reserve account runs out. Seasonal workers have also been let go.

In a letter, the township notified residents that many of the services they rely on -- such as fire suppression, cemetery, road maintenance and municipal administration -- are coming to an end Aug. 1.

All remaining employees will be laid off.

“That was the only solution,” Tremblay said.

According to the 2021 census, the population of Fauquier-Strickland is 467. Most residents are seniors on fixed incomes.

Last year, the township raised taxes by 26 per cent. To address the financial crisis through taxation alone in the next budget, Tremblay said rates would have to go up as much as 230 per cent.

She said efforts to secure emergency funds from the province have been unsuccessful.

Taxes already high

But residents who spoke to CTV News said they are already paying far more in taxes to live there than they expected.

“I pay three times the amount for water here than I did in Hamilton,” said Alan Gosnay, who arrived with his spouse in December to live closer to grandchildren.

Gosnay said he’s not blaming anyone because he’s unfamiliar with the municipality’s history.

“But somebody’s got to be held accountable for it somehow,” he said.

“Like when I bought here, I thought, wow, this is a nice town and then I started seeing the park starting to look a little scruffy, the waterworks over here starting to look a little scruffy. Now, I know the reason why -- because there’s no money for anything.”

Gosnay hopes the situation is rectified before Aug. 1.

“Like you can’t just up and leave. It’s not that easy, right?” he said.

Originally from Kenora, Coreena Zurkan moved to the township to be with her spouse in 2011.

“It’s a beautiful little town,” Zurkan said.

“We’re very upset. Like, why aren’t you paying the bills? This is what you’re all hired for. The council and everybody. You’re supposed to be paying the bills.”

Mike Miscio moved to Fauquier-Strickland from Haliburton eight years ago -- and he loves it.

“The people up here, it’s different than where I come from, you know, a lot nicer,” said Miscio.

So the news about the municipality discontinuing services hit him “pretty hard.”

“We knew something was up, like, how do we get this much debt in the first place?” Miscio said.

“There don’t seem to be any answers for that.”

But Tremblay said the province has been aware of the community’s financial troubles since 2023.

In a letter to the mayor, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Robert J. Flack reminded council of its duties and responsibilities.

“This business would include remaining capable of paying bills and receiving payments and ensuring that the health and safety of township residents is not placed in jeopardy,” Flack wrote.

The letter also said that the Municipal Services Office North in Sudbury has worked closely with township staff to help them carry out their duties.

A meeting is planned for July 14 to explore options.

Tremblay said the “crisis” won’t mean a permanent closure of the municipality. She hopes that by declaring plans to stop services Aug.1, the province will finally step in to help.

“We expect that the cessation of essential services will prompt … immediate provincial action,” Tremblay and council wrote to residents.

She said neighbouring municipalities are helping with garbage collection, fire and mutual aid services.

But residents told CTV News they are concerned about their property values.

“Whoever wants to try and sell their place well, it’s not going to be too encouraging to come over here now,” said Nicole Riopel.

“It’s just not going to be the same, it’s going to hurt,” said Riopel.

Tremblay said she’s asking people to remain patient and hopeful while the township works through this “unprecedented situation.”