Mayor Lucas Cleveland has released the final report of the Community Led Task Force—a resident-driven group formed to take a hard, independent look at Cobourg’s financial future. The Task Force, led by consultant David Dexter, consisted of 10 Cobourg residents selected through an arms-length process. Over five meetings, the group dug into the Town’s services, operating budget, Asset Management Plan, capital budget, owned assets, and reserve holdings.
Dexter noted that the group’s 42 recommendations were developed and debated through four guiding principles:
Pay-as-we-benefit
Long-term funding sustainability
Equitable community spending
Municipal responsibilities
The Task Force was created at the direction of Mayor Cleveland to examine financial options and bring forward resident-driven recommendations for the 2026 Operating and Capital Budget and beyond. The aim was to establish a genuinely community-focused process—something closer to a participatory budget—where a diverse group of residents could assess Cobourg’s fiscal opportunities and challenges without political or staff influence.
Task Force Members:
David Dexter (Lead), Anthony Dew, Peter Dounoukos, Chrystalla Manna, Susie Stoltenberg, Mark Mills, Susan MacDonald, Ken Strauss, Esther Schroeder, Dick Kauling, and Al Switzer.
“This report reflects the commitment of residents who care deeply about our community’s future,” said Mayor Cleveland. “We are grateful for their time, effort, and thoughtful contributions.”
Some of the recommendations will appear in the 2026 Mayor’s Budget, scheduled for release on December 8, 2025. Cleveland also hopes the broader list of ideas sparks real discussion during the next election cycle. “I believe the Cobourg community deserves to know where those seeking elected office stand in relation to our community members’ suggestions.”
Access to the report and reference documents can be found here…
Community-Led Blueprint for Cobourg Financial Sustainability
