In Their Words: County politicians debate on study of the future of Northumberland

Restructuring Northumberland County is on the table once more. Northumberland County council approved a study to examine options related to reorganizing the upper-level municipal government locally. At the Dec. 16 regular meeting, councillors were told that any concrete steps would not be taken until at least 2026. The study would look at eliminating all seven municipalities into a single municipal government, according to a staff report debated at the meeting. Another option would be to review local and county services and combine them for cost-effectiveness and efficiency. In 1998, Northumberland County was amalgamated into seven municipalities, down from 14. After years of study and debate, the Mike Harris government forced this on local politicians. A letter will be sent to the seven municipalities to get feedback. Municipal staff from both the county and the local municipalities will also provide input. In Their Words captures the debate among county councillors on this decision. Listen to the politicians and their positions as they discuss what to do. In Their Words is a feature that allows people to listen to what is going on at the various councils within Northumberland. No spin. No opinions. No one is telling you what to think. Just what was said. It is a chance you might not have otherwise to hear directly from your elected representatives. I hope you find it useful and informative.