The embattled Town of Amherstburg has received a financial report from the province, which details 41 recommendations to improve the municipality’s books.

A Financial Management and Practices Review conducted by Deloitte has offered recommendations, saying they should be implemented immediately. While not as thorough as an audit, the review examined financial records between 2009 and early 2014, as well as interviews with staff.

The report, which was released Tuesday afternoon to the public, highlighted several contributing factors to the town’s estimated $40 million debt.

 It says a significant investment into the town’s wastewater treatment plant put a strain on cash flows due to “the level of development charges contemplated did not materialize.”  The report also cites poor record keeping and a lack of transparency between the financial department and town council.

“Accounting records were neglected and financial statements were not audited in a timely manner, leading to a delay in receiving grant money owed by Infrastructure Ontario,” the report states.

As a result, Deloitte has presented the town with 41 recommendations they say the municipality should take going forward. They include:

  • Filling job vacancies in financing and gaining external help.
  • Implementing a focus on debt repayment.
  • Limiting capital spending where possible.
  • Reducing cost initiatives for vendor management and external spending.
  • Looking for opportunities to increase revenue generation through development charges and tax levies, where possible.
  • Raising capital funding through the sale of non-essential assets.

Deloitte says the town should formulate a work plan for implementing these recommendations within the next 24 months.

However, Deputy Mayor Ron Sutherland wants town council to meet again with the Deloitte team for further explanation. He then hopes council can host a town hall meeting to gather public input.

Sutherland says he wants to accomplish all this before Sept. 12, at which point council will enter a lame duck position.

A previous investigation into Amherstburg’s finances by OPP determined there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.