Fort Frances proposed 2026 capital budget lists over $35 million in spending

A long capital budget list for Fort Frances town council to consider.

Information released by the town shows more than $35 million in projects and purchases are up for consideration in next year’s budget.

Council will hold a special meeting in December to discuss the capital budget.

The list includes over $15 million in projects that have not been completed this year and were previously budgeted, including the Third Street West and Scott Street road projects.

Some of the new requests include a million-dollar storage building for public works and new sidewalks for Mill and McIrvine Roads.

Other requests include spending $700,000 on a covered pad and new lighting for the East End outdoor rink.

Another $320,000 is proposed for Townshend Theatre to improve the carpeting, stage floor and sound system.

Projects that have been discussed by town council this year are also included in the draft budget.

This includes spending $175,000 on renovations to the dressing and storage rooms at the Memorial Sports Centre, $200,000 on the design plans to convert the Central Avenue/Second Street intersection to a roundabout, and $85,000 on a new dog park, which is still being explored by an advisory committee.

To fund the projects, the town would have to draw more than $15 million from reserve funds.

Over $7.8 million would come from reserves set up specifically for sewer and water improvements.

Another $18 million would be in the form of various grants.

Previously, council’s commitment to projects had been dependent upon funding from senior levels of government.

Listed below is the entire list of capital projects being put forward for council consideration.