STEPHANIE LEMAY FOR MAYOR – THE PLAN
YEAR ONE — Get Control
The first year is about establishing the financial foundation and clear understanding of the community wellbeing.
Develop an Affordability Strategy based on the needs of residents. Introduce an affordability test for major spending. Strengthen procurement and capital reporting. Identify grant-ready projects. Begin formal discussions with neighboring municipalities about shared-service opportunities.
And establish a public financial dashboard.
Complete a Safety Audit (Considering the conditions during both the day and night) by engaging and building on the expertise and partnerships Pembroke has in place. Establish the state of current conditions and the desired outcomes residents want.
And establish a public safety dashboard.
Year One: Understand the real concerns and costs. Challenge spending and consider changes to approach. Establish priorities the Residents have asked for and Report progress publicly.
YEAR TWO — Build Partnerships
Take the findings from Year One and turn them into action.
Implement practical efficiencies. Pursue shared purchasing and service arrangements. Accelerate grant applications. Strengthen partnerships around homelessness, mental health and public safety. Advance redevelopment and housing. Improve development approvals and actively pursue private investment.
Year Two: Stop trying to solve every problem alone. Report progress to Residents.
YEAR THREE — Grow
By Year Three, the focus increasingly shifts from controlling the City’s cost base to strengthening Pembroke’s economic base.
Target commercial and industrial investment. Move underused properties toward productive use. Continue housing and redevelopment. Advance infrastructure projects supported by outside funding. Expand successful partnerships.
Measure whether assessment growth is beginning to reduce pressure on existing taxpayers.
Year Three: Grow the tax base instead of relying on the tax rate. Report progress to Residents
YEAR FOUR — Lock In the Gains
The final year is about making the changes permanent.
Update the 10-year financial and infrastructure plan.
Measure the results of the affordability strategy.
Report publicly on four years of spending, infrastructure, grants, partnerships, development and public-safety outcomes.
Identify the remaining infrastructure gap and establish the next long-term targets.
Most importantly, leave the next Council with a stronger financial position and a clear plan—not a pile of deferred problems.
Year Four: Make Pembroke financially stronger for the decade ahead. Report progress to Residents