Jeff Donkersgoed
City/Township Council · Cambridge Ward 1
Back to candidatesBudget & Taxes
It should be more transparent and accessible
- Moderate, predictable tax increases to maintain service levels
- Area-specific levies where residents in a defined area receive or request a distinct level of service
- Actively pursue provincial and federal transfer funding and grants
- Ensure new development pays a greater share of long-term infrastructure costs
- Re-evaluate development incentives or subsidies that create long-term liabilities
- Adjust service delivery models to reduce costs without reducing access
- Prioritize maintenance and state-of-good-repair over expansion
- Require lifecycle cost analysis before approving any new infrastructure
- Defer or cancel capital projects with low long-term return on investment
Please describe one concrete example of a trade-off you would support (or oppose) when costs rise faster than revenues.candidate's own words
A particular capital project within Ward 1 that should be revisited is the rebuilding of the Speed River Dam in Riverside Park, which according to the 2026 City of Cambridge Budget could cost over $20 million once construction begins in 2029. City staff, the City’s Environmental Advisory Committee, the Grand River Conservation Authority, various Indigenous groups, and other environmental organizations argued for the naturalization of the Speed River over a decade ago, but City Council voted against those recommendations. The City should revisit the proposal of the Ontario River Alliance and the Ontario Federation of Hunters and Anglers (https://www.ontarioriversalliance.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2018-05-16-ORA-Joint-RiversideDam.pdf) for the Speed River that focused only on the ‘need to have’ infrastructure to protect Riverside Park and nearby condominiums and Fountain Street residences from potential flooding rather than a full rebuild - a proposal that is good for fishing, the environment, and could save millions that can be invested in other areas.