Key Issues Needing Immediate Attention

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• Stop using capital reserves to artificially lower taxes; rebuild reserves to responsible levels.
   

• Use strategic borrowing and targeted grant allocation to address the infrastructure deficit, as growing municipalities do.
   

• Improve infrastructure reliability to strengthen Sarnia’s competitiveness for industrial investment.
   

• Pursue federal and provincial grants more aggressively to reduce pressure on local taxpayers.
   

• Strengthen early‑stage community consultation to minimize foreseeable project controversy.
   

• Ensuring well‑defined, forward‑looking approaches to issues like supportive housing and people experiencing homelessness.
   

• Apply measured, across‑department austerity to stabilize long‑term municipal finances.
   

• Protect frontline services while ensuring overall budgets remain sustainable.
   

• Remember: Growth does not happen by just wishing for it. It takes work, commitment and time.