Council’s 2023-2027 Strategic Plan Report Card – Long-Term Financial Plan

As the 2023–2027 Council term nears completion, we’re sharing a series of “report cards” by highlighting progress on Strategic Plan initiatives.

Our final update focuses on the Long‑Term Financial Plan (LTFP) – a key component of MM2048 and a roadmap for managing growth responsibly.

Strategic Plan principle: Sustainable Financial Stewardship.

Purpose of the Long‑Term Financial Plan

Mississippi Mills is preparing for significant growth. To ensure we can maintain infrastructure, services, and staffing levels, Council adopted a 10‑year LTFP – developed by KPMG – in August 2025. The plan integrates:

• Capital planning (master plans, development charges, asset management)
• Operating and service delivery needs
• Staffing forecasts
• Revenue strategies
• Reserve and reserve fund targets

This coordinated approach guides annual budgets and ensures long‑term financial sustainability.

Core Building Blocks

• Life‑Cycle Costing
  • A new life‑cycle costing model ensures the Municipality saves for asset replacement throughout an asset’s useful life. This strengthens reserves, reduces reliance on debt, and prevents costly deferred maintenance.
• Capital Levy
  • A dedicated capital levy – indexed to operating costs – creates a stable, inflation‑resistant funding source for capital projects. It reduces long‑term tax impacts and supports a predictable, sustainable capital program.

While these tools require steady annual levy increases, they avoid the much higher long‑term costs of debt‑heavy financing or asset neglect.

Additional Highlights

• Growth Forecasting: Aligns financial planning with MM2048 population and development projections.
• Debt Management: Ensures borrowing remains strategic and within provincial limits.
• Reserve Strengthening: Establishes targets to improve financial flexibility.
• Risk Analysis: Considers inflation, interest rates, and construction cost pressures.
• Financial Health Indicators: Tracks reserve adequacy, debt levels, and asset sustainability.

What this Means for Residents

The LTFP positions Mississippi Mills to manage growth responsibly, maintain service levels, and replace aging infrastructure without sudden tax increases. It ensures today’s investments support a strong, resilient community for decades to come.

Read the Long-Term Financial Plan.