Russell Township Mayor Mike Tarnowski says stable provincial funding for municipalities was one of the key messages he brought home from this year’s Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference.
The annual conference, held Aug. 16 to 19, brought together municipal leaders from across Ontario to discuss issues facing communities and meet with provincial representatives.
For Tarnowski, the conference was also an opportunity for local and regional mayors to compare challenges, share solutions and build relationships.
“It’s a great opportunity for all local and regional mayors to get together,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to understand what’s happening, the realities in different municipalities, share our challenges and our solutions.”
Tarnowski attended three delegations during the conference, meeting directly with ministry staff to discuss issues affecting Russell Township.
Infrastructure, housing, municipal finances and governance were among the major themes discussed at this year’s conference.
One of Tarnowski’s main takeaways was the need for municipalities to receive more consistent financial support from the provincial government.
“Municipalities are challenged, fiscally challenged, financially,” he said. “We’re looking for some stable support from the province.”
Tarnowski noted that municipalities are being asked to meet housing and growth targets established by provincial and federal governments, while also being responsible for funding the infrastructure required to support that growth.
While municipalities welcome grants and other forms of government assistance, he said they would benefit from funding they can depend on from year to year.
“We need some more kind of consistent and regular support,” he said.
According to Tarnowski, affordability is a concern shared by many municipalities, particularly as inflation has increased costs since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Municipalities are also required to set money aside for future infrastructure replacement through asset management policies. While he considers that good fiscal policy, Tarnowski said the combination of rising costs and long-term infrastructure requirements is making municipal budgets increasingly difficult to manage.
Russell Township, however, is in a comparatively strong position because of its continued residential, industrial and commercial growth.
“We’re very fortunate here in Russell Township that we have growth supporting that,” he said. “So that’s helped us a lot. And so we’re in a very good position. But there are many municipalities that are really struggling right now.”
Tarnowski also used the conference to explore approaches that could benefit Russell Township, particularly as the municipality studies options for local shared transportation.
He said he spoke with representatives from other municipalities, including Kemptville, to learn how they are addressing transportation challenges for residents travelling to local jobs, medical appointments and other services.
Wastewater infrastructure was another priority. Russell Township is working with the Nation Municipality on infrastructure needs and used two delegations at AMO, one with the Ministry of Rural Affairs and another with the Ministry of Infrastructure, to advocate for support.
Looking ahead, Tarnowski said the municipality’s immediate priority is preparing for the upcoming municipal election and encouraging residents to become informed and participate.
Following AMO, the township will also continue strengthening relationships with neighbouring municipalities and advocating for financial support for major infrastructure projects.
Tarnowski credited Glengarry-Prescott-Russell MPP Stéphane Sarrazin for helping Russell Township secure significant grant support in 2025, but said the municipality’s continued growth means there will remain a need for additional funding.
