County changes amount of funding to Invest Windsor-Essex

Essex County council has opted to reverse its previous decision on how much money it gives to a non-profit economic development organization.

At last week’s regular meeting, Tecumseh Deputy Mayor and Deputy County Warden Joe Bachetti brought forth a motion that would reallocate the amount that will go to Invest Windsor-Essex.

Back on Dec. 4 when the county was going through its budget deliberation process, it was decided to reduce the amount to Invest Windsor-Essex by 15 per cent from $1,122,060 to $953,750. At that time, the county felt it was not getting its money’s worth.

Bachetti said he brought forth his motion, which was accepted, in light of new information provided.

“We made a decision (Dec. 4) without an administrative report,” said Bachetti.

He added that the county at that time may not have realized the impact that the organization has nor consulted with the City of Windsor.

Invest Windsor-Essex is responsible for advancing economic development to grow, and while the county did decide to restore the previously cut amount, there was a lot of discussion not only about giving it back but also whether or not procedurally it could do it despite the 2025 budget being approved.

“I don’t mind giving the money back if they perform. They’ve done nothing but meet with municipalities and pressure us to give it back,” said Essex Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley who hinted that the county might have reduced it even more.

Lakeshore Deputy Mayor Kirk Walstedt brought up the fact that the county has already passed its budget and that the reduction decision has already been debated.

“County taxpayers have definitely benefited from this decision and their property taxes are less as a result,” said Walstedt.

Kingsville Deputy Mayor Kim DeYoung wanted to know if the approved budget was now open for further discussion. Several county councillors used the term “acted upon” when it came to the budget already being passed.

“I do believe the definition of acted upon needs to be looked at in each specific case,” said CAO Sandra Zwiers.

She noted that during the night’s discussion that the county had not passed the tax policy and levy on property taxes by-law which it did later in the meeting.

While both Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue and Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb voted in favour of restoring the original amount of $1,122,060 to Invest Windsor-Essex, Gibb said that “the elephant in the room”, was the fact that a lot has changed since the U.S. has sanctioned tariffs on Canada.

“At the time (Dec. 4 reduction) I thought it was very shortsighted of us to make such as drastic move. We chose the arbitrary number of 15 per cent with no information to help us make that decision,” said LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche.

Meloche noted that there were shortfalls on both parts of the county and Invest Windsor-Essex.

Essex County Warden Hilda MacDonald who is an Invest Windsor-Essex board member, said that  reducing the amount was a wake-up call but since has noticed an improvement in its overall customer service.

“They’ve actually taken into account that county council was not happy with their interaction with the county and they are trying to do better,” said MacDonald.

County changes amount of funding to Invest Windsor-Essex

By Fred Groves