The city has to squeeze every nickel according to Mayor Don Darling as the Finance Committee takes another look at the draft operating and capital budgets.
The draft city budget includes $360 thousand dollars for more work next year on the City Market, $600 thousand to extend Harbour Passage to Sydney Street and $470 thousand for upgrades to the Carleton Community Centre.
City Manager Jeff Trail doesn’t expect to see less money from the province next year but any growth will be limited. Common Councillor David Merrithew, who chairs the city’s Finance Committee, is worried about how high the city debt is, especially if interest rates start rising.
Merrithew says a big unknown is the work that has to be done on Sand Cove Road because of erosion. $700 thousand is being recommended as a start for 2019.
If approved, the police budget would increase by 2.3 per cent with a funding increase of $550 thousand for salaries and other costs. $150 thousand dollars is being recommended for new police cars and $200 thousand for firearms.
The city would also spend $3.3 million dollars over two years on new City Transit buses.
The draft budget would also see $125 thousand dollars spent on more renovations at the Trade and Convention Centre.
