A potential dispute is brewing between Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon over the maintenance costs of regional roads in Peel Region.
Mississauga officials are exploring the possibility of saving $30.7 million if the responsibility for regionally owned roads is transferred from the Region of Peel to the lower-tier municipalities of Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon. This would be achieved by shifting from the current property assessment-based funding model to a per-kilometre system for road maintenance.
In a presentation earlier this month, senior staff from Mississauga explained that this change would allow the city to take over the maintenance of the roads within its boundaries, saving approximately $30 million. However, this would result in a corresponding increase in road costs for Brampton and Caledon residents.
Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish argued that the current system is unfair, stating that Mississauga taxpayers are effectively “subsidizing” the roads in both Brampton and Caledon. “I do believe it’s completely unfair,” Parrish told Mississauga News, referring to the current cost-sharing arrangement.
The dispute over road costs is just the latest chapter in the ongoing debate about the future of regional services in Peel. All three municipalities have previously clashed over the delivery and funding of regional services, and roads are now becoming the latest battleground.
Currently, Mississauga pays nearly 58% of the region’s highway maintenance budget, despite having around 28% of the region’s 1,682 kilometers of roads. Brampton maintains 41% of the region’s roads, while Caledon is responsible for 30%.
If the new per-kilometre cost model is adopted, Caledon would be hit hardest, with road maintenance costs rising by an estimated $24.8 million. The town currently contributes around 7% of the shared costs for regional road maintenance.
Parrish acknowledged that Caledon officials are unlikely to be pleased with the proposed changes. “Their taxes will go up,” she said. “They may have to slow down the expansion of roads. Mississauga’s taxes will go down, as they should.”
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how this new approach will impact the future of road maintenance in Peel and whether it will escalate tensions between the three municipalities.
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