May Update: Revised Designs Recommended for 2027 Budget

Overview

On January 14, 2026, Council asked staff to review the library redevelopment design approved in late 2025. The goal was to look for ways to lower costs.

Council will review the updated design at their Regular Meeting on May 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM.

Staff recommend that the updated design be moved to the 2027 budget process. This would only delay the detailed design work. The construction timeline would still be planned for 2028–2029.

Decision Summary

In May 2025, Council approved $250,000 from the Council Initiatives Reserve for detailed engineering work on the project. About $65,000 has been spent so far. The remaining funds would be carried forward to the 2027 budget.

In October 2025, Council approved Option 1 with an estimated cost of $8,878,949.

This new report does not change that decision. Under the rules, Council cannot revisit that decision for one full year unless a special motion is passed.

Report Summary

The updated estimate lowers the cost of the new library addition to about $6.06 million. This includes a 20% contingency to help cover unexpected costs.

An additional $984,711 is planned for:

a new elevator
upgrades to Old Town Hall

This brings the total estimated project cost to about $6.9 million.

The estimate assumes construction would start in March 2027. However, this is not realistic because the new Council must first approve the detailed design. Staff now expect construction to begin in late 2028, with most costs happening in 2029.

So far, fundraising efforts have secured just over $400,000 in pledges. More fundraising is limited until the new Council (2026–2030) gives support and Elgin County provides formal approval.

The project will depend on support from the next Council. If it does not move forward, staff expect Council may consider another large project, such as a new gymnasium and walking track if the removal of recreational space from the East Elgin Community Complex occurs.

The updated design removes the second floor, glass walkway, and atrium. Instead, it:

redesigns the main floor of Old Town Hall into a flexible space
improves washrooms on both floors
adds an elevator to improve accessibility

Financial Considerations

A typical fundraising goal for projects like this is 10–15%. Based on early support, Council may consider a goal of $1 million.

Staff estimate:

up to $1 million from grants
additional funding from growth, investments, and reserves
about 15% of costs covered by development charges

Staff also recommend talking with Elgin County about a $2 million interest-free loan. This is higher than their usual limit, but may be reasonable since the library serves people beyond Aylmer.

There may still be a funding gap. Staff reviewed an option with $2 million in debt over 15 years. This could mean a one-time tax increase of about 2–4%. It is possible the project could move forward without a tax increase if the Town continues to grow, but this is not certain.

Next Steps

Council will review this report at the May 6, 2026 meeting. They will discuss and vote on whether to move the detailed design to the 2027 budget.

Residents can:

watch the meeting on Eastlink Community TV or YouTube
observe in person at 25 Centre Street, Aylmer