Photo by William Crooks
Mayors from across the Brome-Missisquoi region gathered at the Centre administratif de la MRC in Cowansville for their Nov. 27 meeting, where the 2025 budget sparked a heated debate

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

The Nov. 27 meeting of the Brome-Missisquoi MRC, presided over by Prefect Patrick Melchior, was dominated by heated debate over the proposed 2025 budget. Sutton Mayor Robert Benoit led the opposition, delivering a pointed critique of what he described as unchecked cost increases and inequitable financial practices that strain smaller municipalities.

Benoit opened his critique by detailing the financial pressures on Sutton, which has seen its share of the MRC budget rise dramatically in recent years. He noted that Sutton’s contributions had increased from $624,000 in 2022 to $824,000 projected for 2025, marking a 33.4 per cent rise in just three years. This, he argued, was compounded by additional increases from the Sureté du Québec (SQ), with total MRC and SQ contributions rising by $222,560 this year alone.

“For a town with a modest budget like ours, these increases are untenable,” said Benoit. “We’re forced to make painful choices, cutting essential services and deferring critical projects, all while seeing little in return. What services are residents receiving for these rising contributions?”

Benoit also pointed to service reductions within Sutton as evidence of the growing financial burden. He highlighted deferred maintenance on secondary roads and other infrastructure projects, which he attributed to the increasing costs funneled to regional governance. “Our secondary roads are deteriorating because we don’t have the funds to maintain them properly,” he said.

Central to Benoit’s argument was the perception of inefficiency and poor prioritization in the MRC’s budgeting process. He criticized the council’s focus on expanding strategic projects, such as the sustainable development plan update, without thoroughly reassessing existing commitments. “The MRC continues to stack new priorities on top of old ones without any serious review of current expenses. This is not sustainable,” he said.

Benoit’s frustration extended to the broader budgeting process. “We were promised changes last year after raising similar concerns, but here we are again, dealing with the same issues. The process hasn’t improved,” he said, accusing the MRC of operating with a “top-down” approach that fails to adequately consider the needs of smaller municipalities. “We need to move to a bottom-up model where the priorities of towns like Sutton are properly reflected.”

Prefect Patrick Melchior defended the budget, emphasizing that many cost increases stemmed from provincial mandates. He cited specific obligations, such as compliance with environmental regulations and updates to regional planning frameworks, which he argued were non-negotiable. “These are necessary investments to meet our responsibilities. They are not optional,” Melchior said. He acknowledged the financial pressures on municipalities but maintained that the MRC was operating within the constraints set by the provincial government.

Melchior also sought to counter claims of inefficiency, noting that the budget process had been transparent, with multiple opportunities for feedback from municipalities. “This process has been open, and adjustments were made based on input from previous sessions,” he said, adding that the MRC staff had worked diligently to align the budget with both provincial requirements and local needs.

The debate, however, revealed deeper frustrations about governance and the balance of power within the MRC. Benoit argued that smaller municipalities like Sutton were disproportionately affected by the increases, particularly given their demographic realities. “Sutton’s population includes a high proportion of retirees and fixed-income households who are bearing the brunt of these tax increases,” he said. “These rising costs are deepening inequalities and making it harder for our residents to get by.”

Benoit linked these local challenges to broader societal issues, citing housing affordability and economic disparities. He noted that many younger families and working-class residents are being priced out of the housing market, further straining the town’s social fabric. “We’re seeing a growing gap between those who can afford to live in Sutton and those who can’t. This isn’t just a local issue—it’s a systemic problem,” he said.

Steven Neil, Mayor of Brigham, expressed partial agreement with Benoit’s concerns, acknowledging the financial pressures faced by smaller municipalities. However, he emphasized the limited flexibility the MRC has under provincial constraints. “We’re all feeling the pinch, but some of this is out of our hands,” Neil said. Other mayors echoed a need for greater collaboration and transparency in the budgeting process but stopped short of opposing the proposed budget.

The Sureté du Québec’s rising costs were another point of contention. Benoit noted that Sutton’s SQ fees had increased by 9.6 per cent, a figure he described as disproportionate given the declining service levels reported by residents. “We’re paying more and receiving less. This is unacceptable,” he said, calling for a review of how these fees are calculated and allocated.

As the debate continued, Melchior sought to refocus the discussion on the broader goals of the MRC. He highlighted long-term initiatives, such as environmental sustainability projects and regional economic development plans, as essential investments for the future. “These initiatives are about building resilience and ensuring that our region remains strong in the years to come,” he said. However, Benoit countered that these projects often fail to deliver tangible benefits to smaller towns. “We’re building a future on the backs of small towns and their taxpayers,” he said.

The budget ultimately passed almost unanimously with amendments, including a commitment to review allocation methods in 2025. Benoit was the only one who voted against it. While Melchior framed this as a step toward addressing concerns, Benoit remained skeptical. “We’ve heard promises before. What we need is real action,” he said, proposing the creation of a task force to explore more equitable funding models and provide smaller municipalities with a stronger voice.

For many residents in Sutton and other small towns, the rising costs of regional governance have become a pressing issue, raising questions about the balance between collective goals and local realities. Benoit called on citizens to become more engaged in the MRC’s decision-making process. “These decisions affect all of us. If we don’t make our voices heard, we can’t expect things to change,” he said.