The planning-and-development reorganization with a new staff position could have a 1% tax impact next year

Cobourg municipal council.

By: Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland 89.7 FM News

Cobourg

A report before Cobourg council Wednesday estimated the cost to taxpayers of Mayor Lucas Cleveland's reorganization of a key municipal department.

The report by Treasurer Adam Giddings follows up on the Aug. 14 directive issued under Cleveland's Strong Mayor Powers that reorganized the Planning and Development Division, changing it to the Development Division. The division's head is the newly created position of Director of Development, with an additional new Deputy Director role to be established.

At a special Aug. 25 meeting, council called for a report analyzing the financial impacts.

For 2025, the $46,741 cost is fully offset through the Staff Contingency Reserve.

The 2026 projected budget impact could be up to 1.11% ($343,073) if both the Manager of Development Engineering Services and an Engineering Technician require replacement (0.83% if only one is replaced).

The 2027 impacts should be limited to standard wage increases.

Cleveland questioned why Giddings included the two other staffers in his report. Giddings said it was a matter of “due diligence, not speculation.

“It ultimately protects both the municipality and council by ensuring full financial consequences are considered, rather than dealing with this retroactively or being more of a reactive municipality.”