Council investments you can touch

Paramedic bases, ferry infrastructure, trail improvements, and other physical investments made during the Council term

Building space for Paramedics

Adding Paramedic capacity requires more than hiring people. Paramedics also need appropriate stations, vehicles, equipment, and space to work and train.

Council and the City of Kingston jointly invested more than $3 million in the new Battersea Paramedic Station. Paramedics began operating from the new station in 2024. Council also advanced the County’s participation in a new joint Fire/Paramedic station on Taylor Kidd Boulevard in Kingston. Plans include two Paramedic bays with capacity for up to four ambulances. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2027.

Keeping Howe Islanders connected

For Howe Island residents, ferry infrastructure is part of the route to work, school, appointments, shopping, and other services. Council continued to advocate for appropriate provincial support for the ferry service.

County staff operate the Howe Island County Ferry. Council funds a small share of the service and infrastructure costs while working with provincial partners on operational and capital funding. In 2025, ferry staff recorded 249,186 passenger crossings and 47,760 ferry trips.

The Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) who owns the vessel and docks, completed extensive dock improvements in June 2026.

Investing in the Frontenac K&P Trail

Council invested $2 million during the term and worked with the governments of Ontario and Canada to build-out the Frontenac K&P Trail as recreational infrastructure and a connection among communities.

During the term, Council invested in the Elbow Creek Bridge, which opened in December 2023; acquired the Snow Road Station lands in 2025; and supported improvements at the Sharbot Lake trailhead and accessible washroom in 2026.

County economic development staff estimated 142,378 visits to the trail in 2025 and estimate trail visitors generated $1.81 million in direct visitor spending that year.

As more trail infrastructure is completed, councillors and staff will turn their attention more to maintaining what has been built, improving the experience for trail users, strengthening connections with communities and businesses, and making the most of the trail’s recreational and economic potential.

Renewing the County administration building

Council completed redevelopment of the County Administration Building in 2024. The project renewed a major County-owned asset and provided functional space for County administration and Council operations.

Saving for the things we’ll need tomorrow

Building or buying a capital asset is only the beginning of its cost. Ambulances eventually need replacement. Buildings require major repairs and renewal. Ferry infrastructure, trail structures, and other County assets require constant maintenance and eventual renewal or replacement. Council must therefore consider both what residents need today and how future councils and residents will pay to maintain and replace the assets that deliver those services.

During the term, Council progressively increased the amount the County puts aside each year for future capital needs. Budget measures added about $81,000 a year to capital-reserve contributions in 2024, $216,000 in 2025, and $241,000 in 2026.

One way Council did this is through a dedicated capital component of the County property-tax levy. Council increased that component from 0.65 percent of the County levy in 2024 to 1.0 percent in 2025 and 1.6 percent in 2026. For a residential property rate payer, the 2026 dedicated capital increase works out to approximately $3.50 a year for every $100,000 of property tax assessment.

Putting money aside over time helps future councils prepare for much larger costs when County assets need repair or replacement.

What comes next

The next Council will inherit recently completed investments and decisions about Paramedic facilities, Fairmount redevelopment, ferry infrastructure, trail assets, vehicles, equipment, buildings, and other long-term capital needs. It will also inherit the responsibility to decide how quickly to build reserves for those future costs while continuing to fund the services residents use today.

2026 Frontenac County Budget Process • Frontenac Paramedics' Plan for the Future • Howe Island County operated ferry • Frontenac K&P Trail Information Hub • Working with Fairmount Home • Back to County Council progress and priorities