The first draft budget for 2017 has been unveiled before the city’s Finance Committee with no growth in the tax base but no increase in the tax rate. City Staff are assuming no change in the unconditional grant from the province next year.
Under this scenario, the various city departments will have a zero per cent increase in their individual budgets. The committee has been told the fire department will need an extra $650 thousand next year just to maintain its current level of service and city police will require an increase of $550 thousand. David Merrithew, who chairs the Finance Committee, acknowledges there’s concern over the increase in the cost of protective services, saying it’s unsustainable over the long term. Just over half of the city budget is made up of wages and benefits. City Staff are hoping to see rising costs offset by less money being spent on goods and services. Merrithew calls that a short term fix that isn’t sustainable over the long run.
The draft budget calls for a 6 dollar a month increase in what flat rate users pay for their water for a yearly total of almost 13 hundred dollars. Budget estimates call for the water rates to rise in 2018 to $1368 with another increase in 2019 to $1440 dollars.
There’s 3.1 million dollars in the draft budget for the Transit Commission to buy 5 or 6 new buses with another 3.1 million in 2018 for more buses.
A total of 179 thousand dollars has been earmarked for all community grants next year. The committee made clear there will be public consultation and changes can be made before the final version comes up for approval in Dcecember.
