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Saugeen Municipal Airport Commission presents 2025 budget to Brockton council
December 20, 2024 By Pauline Kerr, Local Journalism Initiative, The Walkerton Herald Times
BROCKTON — Dave Hocking, chair of the Saugeen Municipal Airport Commission (SMAC) and Hanover councillor (and Brockton resident), and Tim Olds, airport manager (and Elmwood deputy fire chief) attended the Dec. 10 meeting of Brockton council to present the 2025 SMA budget.
Hocking opened by saying, “First and foremost, we’ve had a very good year.” Even with some bills still outstanding, the year will end with a surplus, he said.
SMAC is proposing a municipal contribution (divided among the three municipalities that own the airport – Hanover, West Grey and Brockton) of $172,500. This amounts to a $10,300 increase over the approved 2024 municipal contribution of $162,200. The actual amount contributed was $154,530 – the amount for 2022, after which the amount was frozen, with all municipalities not agreeing on the requested increase.
Hocking said West Grey and Hanover have already approved their 2025 increase.
Of the three municipalities, Brockton’s share is the largest, at just under 42 per cent, Hanover’s is a bit over 31 per cent, and West Grey’s share is 27 per cent.
Hocking said SMAC would be open to looking at the funding agreement that’s in place. It hasn’t been revisited since 2012. “Now it’s disproportionate,” he said.
He noted that the airport expects to be in a surplus situation (over $80,000); in response to a question by Coun. Greg McLean, he said any surplus would be put into a reserve fund that will be set up for capital expenses, the most important one being the runway, which is currently in good shape but needs work annually. Hocking said there are also two outstanding loans he’d like to see paid off.
Coun. Steve Travale asked about a development proposal that had been reviewed recently West Grey council.
Hocking explained the 25-acre commercial, industrial and residential proposal, developed in cooperation with Grey County economic development and tourism, has also been presented to Hanover council, and will be coming before Brockton council in January.
“It’s just in the investigative stages,” Hocking said.
Coun. Tim Elphick asked why the cost sharing agreement hadn’t been updated by SMAC since 2012; Hocking said it should be done with the municipalities.
Elphick also noted regarding the proposed development, that airports are being looked at differently, and he’s excited about what’s coming.
Coun. Mitch Clark asked about the surplus, and the reason for the $18,000 increase in the amount being requested from the municipalities.
Hocking said the amount has been frozen for the past three years – that $18,000 increase is spread over three years. “We felt we needed to move forward,” he said, and build some resources in case the economic development proposal “takes off,” for such things as studies.
He commented that 50 years ago, the airport at Waterloo was very similar to SMA. “We are in a perfect situation (to expand). … A lot of things are percolating! … It’s a happening place.”
Hocking reminded everyone that his goal was to see the airport become self-sustaining.
The SMA budget will be looked at and discussed further when Brockton does its budget a month from now.