Owen Sound Council's Claims of Fiscal Responsibility Don't Stand Up to Even Minimal Scrutiny
Jim Hutton’s letter to the editor challenges Owen Sound Council’s claims of fiscal responsibility, citing rising expenses, unfulfilled promises, and a growing disconnect between council and residents.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Two years ago, Owen Sound residents elected nine council members to manage municipal affairs. At the midpoint of their term, it’s clear that many promises have been left unfulfilled, with fiscal responsibility—a key election theme—proving elusive.
Mayor Ian Boddy just spoke about fiscal responsibility in his year-end address, highlighting the 2.81% levy increase and $950,000 in savings achieved this year through Service Review. He didn’t mention that the City’s total budget increased by $1.4 million and total expenses rose 12.6% year-over-year.
Council continues to spend over $400,000 a year on an art gallery that’s open 16 hours a week, and has allocated $100,000 more to the Vision 2050 pet project that already ate $80,000 out of the budget in 2024.
The Remuneration Task Force, meanwhile, which was meant to address economic barriers to running for council, was cancelled despite its minimal budget impact. Deputy Mayor Scott Greig’s campaign promise to introduce a Budget Committee to ensure oversight on expenditures remains unfulfilled, as well.
Broken promises on fiscal responsibility have been a theme this term. All of this leaves residents wondering how this Council can continue to prioritize long-term visions while ignoring such pressing immediate challenges.
Overlooking Vulnerable Residents
Council’s spending choices have sparked criticism for neglecting Owen Sound’s most vulnerable. Homelessness remains a visible and growing issue, yet public investment in solutions, such as installing downtown public washrooms, remains absent.
Mayor Ian Boddy’s repeated framing of homelessness as a "county problem" highlights a lack of local accountability. As residents struggle, the disconnect between council priorities and community needs becomes increasingly evident.
![Owen Sound's Mayor Really Doesn't Want to Talk About Homelessness [Video]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F80775f58-9169-4c19-9d94-2b9640466085_1548x964.png)
Decline in Public Engagement
Changes to public question periods, reducing speaking time from five to three minutes, reflect a diminishing openness to resident input. This followed an incident where the mayor cut off a speaker mid-question during a council meeting, a move council later endorsed by altering the rules.
Promises of greater public dialogue, such as Mayor Ian Boddy’s support for Town Hall meetings during his campaign, have devolved into limited staff-led open houses, further stifling meaningful public engagement.
Uncontrolled Spending and Bureaucracy
Despite a declining population, the city has seen growth in senior management positions and increased representation on Ontario’s public-sector “sunshine list.” In 2023, eighty-five (85) City employees earned more than $100,000—66.6% more than in 2018.
Based on the city’s Financial Information Returns and Audited Financial Statements, we also see that in 2021, outside of Protective Services managers, Owen Sound had nine (9) more managers in its administration than Cobourg, which is nearly identical to Owen Sound in population, populations-density and the number of occupied dwellings. Between 2011 and 2021, Cobourg added one new position for every 124.7 new residents while Owen Sound added 1 new position for every 3.45 residents lost due to population shrinkage.
The cost of this administrative bloat is measurable and real. I’ve pointed out before that in 2023, the total costs of salaries and benefits for all employees on the Sunshine List were $10,855,484 and $12,589,312 for Cobourg and Owen Sound, respectively. That’s a difference of $1,733,827 more that Owen Sound’s managerial staff are costing taxpayers.
The question this Council refuses to ask and critically look at is: Why?
Efforts to address these inefficiencies, such as my report that outlined millions in potential savings, have been ignored. Without tying staff growth to population needs, taxpayers face rising administrative costs with little accountability.
Related:
A Call for Change
As the clock ticks down on this Council’s term, it’s increasingly likely the solution lies with voters themselves. A more fiscally efficient administration could redirect funds to immediate needs, such as housing support or public amenities for the unhoused, without raising taxes by addressing the inefficiencies we see carrying over and growing in the budget year after year.
Ideas like Deputy Mayor Greig’s Budget Committee or zero-based budgeting could drive meaningful change, if implemented.
Looking ahead, residents must take an active role in identifying and encouraging capable, accountable candidates for the next election.
These individuals must be prepared to challenge the status quo, ensure fiscal responsibility, and prioritize the needs of Owen Sound’s most vulnerable. With greater accountability and engagement, Owen Sound can break the cycle of disappointment and build a council that truly represents and serves its community.
Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of The Owen Sound Current and its editor or publisher.
Do I understand this correctly, that as population shrinks, staff #s at City Hall increase? "...Owen Sound added 1 new position for every 3.45 residents lost due to population shrinkage."