On Wednesday, December 10, United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) Council will have a special meeting and adopt the regional government’s 2026 budget with a 5.05 per cent increase in the tax levy for the year ahead. However, discussions about the UCPR’s financial situation were still spirited when UCPR Council met and reviewed the third draft of the 2026 budget on Wednesday, November 26.

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Stéphane Parisien said a deficit of four to $5 million exists on the new Prescott and Russell Residence project. Opening of the new facility has faced delays.

During a previous discussion of the second draft of the 2026 budget, $500,000 in additional expenditures were requested by council. But, in the third draft, $1,293,500 in savings had been found by not increasing expenditures on Social Services, the Prescott and Russell Residence, and Emergency Services.

“I had previously made it clear that I did not want any cuts to social services. So, I would like this redone,” said Casselman Mayor Geneviève Lajoie.

She suggested instead cutting expenses for hospitality suites at conferences and staff parties.

“We shouldn’t be benefitting from tax money to do fun things.”

Parisien said the savings in the budget simply mean no increases in 2026 and that expenditures will be maintained at 2025 levels. He asked Lajoie to clarify her remark about staff parties.

Lajoie said an annual staff recognition event is an example. She said the public also needs better services. She also mentioned hospitality suites as an unnecessary expense.

Clarence-Rockland Mayor Mario Zanth agreed with Lajoie, noting there is a list of 1,500 people waiting for public housing. He also criticized the draft budget for lacking information.

Zanth also wondered if using debt financing for capital projects would reduce the additional tax burden.

Lajoie moved that another draft of the budget be presented to council again without any changes to Social Services expenditures.

The Nation Mayor Francis Brière expressed concern about the Residence deficit.

“A $5 million deficit. That’s a scary number,” he said.

Brière expressed frustration and thought news of the situation seemed sudden.

“This is the third version of the budget, and we find out this week. How does that happen?”

Russell Township Mayor Mike Tarnowski said he would like staff to provide quarterly financial updates to council so there are not surprising situations in the future.

“I’m able to ask at my council table on a regular basis and I may even be annoying when I ask for updates.”

Champlain Township Mayor Normand Riopel said he is not pleased with municipalities like Champlain paying for infrastructure upgrades in other municipalities when the growth in those places should be paying for it.

Tarnowski defended the approach and said Russell spends significantly on infrastructure required for growth and development.

Riopel said his remarks are not intended as disrespect to Russell but reflect how things are structured.

Lefebvre said there are always winners and losers.

“Hawkesbury is one of the losers when it comes to the Road Transfer Fund and municipal roads.”

There are no UCPR county roads within Hawkesbury town limits.

Zanth said he is open to discussing a fairer system of how UCPR services are allocated and wants productive discussions in the year ahead.

Riopel said he wasn’t trying to create a war between municipalities.

Brière said growth comes from the local level.

“It’s because the lower-tier municipalities generate that growth and it’s in perpetuity after it’s there.”

Brière said he did not accept Riopel’s arguments. He described them as short-sighted and only focused on the current year and not the long-term.

Returning to Social Services, Tarnowski said some changes were reasonable and would support the draft budget as presented.

Lajoie warned of a loss of childcare spaces and said a lack of spaces affects the rights of women to work. She also suggested hiring a consultant to study how UCPR funds are allocated among the eight municipalities.

The draft 2026 budget would allow for the UCPR to hire 15 new employees. Zanth was disappointed there was no more information about why they would be hired.

Parisien said each department could provide more information, but said the new employees are required at the new Residence and for information technology roles which assist each municipality with their services.

Director of Public Works Jérémie Bouchard said that one of the positions involved in planning for upgrades to County Road 17 expansion was removed from the budget. He assured Zanth that plans for that project will still be made. Bouchard said debt financing for capital projects is an option for council if it decides.

Deputy Treasurer Mélanie Gratton said there is limited capacity for the UCPR to use external debt financing on capital projects.

Tarnowski said he is against taking on any debt for operational purposes but would be fine with some debt financing for capital expenditures.

He said they are not cutting social services according to the current draft and emphasized how Russell already provides childcare.

“It will still be more than last year.”

Lefebvre noted that some infrastructure projects could be financed internally without using Infrastructure Ontario, the province’s public works financing agency.

Lajoie’s motion to have increases in Social Services expenditures remain in the 2026 budget was defeated. Council adopted the original motion to approve the third draft of the budget and have the final version adopted on December 10.