LOCAL GOVERNMENT: OVERVIEW

The Municipality of Lambton Shores was born of a Provincial initiative that advocated the amalgamation of small municipalities across Ontario. Hundreds of new municipalities were created, with the goal of achieving improved municipal services at lower cost.

After amalgamation, the Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs stated that Lambton Shores was in fact the only municipality to actually realize this goal. Some notable achievements that came from amalgamation:

• Tax rates and utility rates dropped dramatically for many of the communities, as the target was set to bring all rates down to the lowest current rates, those of Grand Bend .
  
• Staffing of the new municipality was trimmed to be 10% leaner, while service levels improved in each of the five communities.
  
• Over the past six years, municipal tax payers have seen only one increase in tax rates, levied due to a reinvestment in recreation and leisure services which will see the new Shores Recreation Centre launch in fall 2007.

The success of the Lambton Shores amalgamation was due to the commitment of the locally elected Council and its staff. Our municipality used innovation, creativity and modern technology to achieve these efficiencies and continues to do so today.

As we move forward, we are committed to protecting our natural environment while managing growth and development, and continuing to maintain our sharp focus on delivering excellent “customer service” to the citizens of Lambton Shores.

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