HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2022 BUDGET ESTIMATES

1. The 2022 balanced budget forecast shows an anticipated revenue of $8,059,614 (including $110,300 in debt service), compared to $7,622,772 in revenue in 2021.

2. These estimates take into account the following four major elements:

• In accordance with the agreement reached between the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the MRC dated March 30, 2020, the amount of the Regions and Rurality Fund (RRF) projected for 2021-22 is $1,245,000.
• Expenses associated with asset maintenance (10 King Street building) are expected to cost $215,000, and include painting, flooring and masonry repairs.
• $150,000 to cover anticipated professional and legal fees related to the La Guerre River Dam/Pumping Station.
• $60,000 to cover anticipated legal fees related to the motion for declaratory judgment of nullity filed by the Town of Huntingdon and the municipalities of Saint-Anicet and Elgin with regard to the transfer of usufruct of the Port Lewis wharf.

3. The average assessment increase in 2022 is 4.61% over the 2021 assessments.

4. A specific allocation in the amount of $80,000 was introduced in the 2021 fiscal year in order to eliminate the accumulated deficit of the Archaeology division over four years.

A revenue/expense page is included relating to the management of the building - 10 King Street, excluding "General Administration," to better appreciate the financial implications associated with the building. This page also considers the long-term debt on the building, the principal balance of which will be paid in full by December 31, 2022 (By-law number 157-2002).

5. The list of priorities for the Regions and Rurality Fund (FRR), as adopted by the Council, will be transmitted to the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation (MAMH) and published on the MRC’s website.

Furthermore, for future accountability and financial planning purposes, page 3 of the document "2022 Budget Forecast" will provide a detailed breakdown of the FRR amounts to be received by the MRC.

6. All costs incurred by the MRC as part of its participation in regional sectoral agreements (Montérégie), sub-regional agreements (Montérégie-Ouest), or specific cases (local fairs, the cadet agreement, etc.), are taken from the FRR. An amount of $75,000 in the "General Administration" segment is provided for this purpose. Also, a note detailing the different regional and sub-regional agreements is included at the end of this section.

7. The "Place aux Jeunes" component of the MRC's activities is taken from the "Economic Development" section given the specific nature of this agreement.

8. The following elements should be taken into account in terms of continuity in 2022:

• An amount of $35,000 is provided for professional fees in the "General Administration" component to support the implementation of new policies that will lead to modern and progressive human resource management.
• Under the Economic Development component:
  • The Fonds d’Animation Touristique in support of two local non-profit organizations has been maintained at $80,000.
  • The Fonds de soutien aux entreprises (FSE) has been allocated $180,000, which will be financed through the FRR contribution to the budget.
  • An investment of $191,000 is planned for the policy on structured projects - non-profit and social economy organizations, in accordance with the agreement with the MAMH.
• An amount of $50,000 from the FRR - component 3 "Signature innovation" has been allocated to measure the feasibility of the "Circuit des silos et sentiers" project.

9. Municipal shares: A summary page is included to provide details of the evolution of shares per municipality according to each "activity".

10. The 2022 budget forecast includes information specific to the Fonds local d’investissement (FIL) and the Programme d’aide d’urgence aux Petites et Moyennes entreprises (PAUPME-PUHSL) including the Aide aux entreprises en région d’alertes maximales (AERAM) component, based on agreements with the ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation.

11. The estimates also include a component related to the Accès Entreprise Québec program, for which a financial assistance agreement between the MRC and the Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation was approved on February 17, 2021, by resolution number 9144-02-21. This agreement provides for the allocation of a maximum of $900,000 to the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent to support regional economic development over a five-year period. An advisory committee composed of local businesspeople is already at work.

12. Two additional positions provided for in the 2021 budget forecast will be maintained in 2022:

• A position in development/urban planning to support the revision or modification of the revised Schéma d’aménagement et de développement (land use and development plan)
• An accounting and bookkeeping position to support the MRC's accounting technician, specifically related to the economic and social development sector
• Additionally, a new administrative support position will be created in 2022 to improve the efficiency of administrative processes.

13. Finally, we would like to confirm that everything is now in place to ensure the sustainability of the MRC's financial health in the short and medium term, given a more balanced approach to revenues and expenses as well as measures in place to eliminate structural deficits in archaeology and the bike path over the next few years. We would like to acknowledge the excellent collaboration of the members of the MRC team in this achievement, but especially the remarkable contribution of Ms. Lise Gendron, accounting technician, in the preparation of these financial statements.