Another pre-budget session is now set for Monday, as Owen Sound council moves to trim any obvious fat before finalizing numbers in February.
Mayor Deb Haswell says they met behind closed doors all day yesterday
Haswell says council is allowed to go in-camera for a number of reasons including discussions on land acquisitions, litigation issues or personnel issues.
She says there were several issues discussed but she can’t reveal what they are.
On Monday, the mayor expects they will discuss Capital expenditures for 2011 and two big expenses are the complete re-construction of the municipal parking lot on 3rd avenue east behind Scotia Bank, and some new traffic lights.
Haswell says there are plans for an upgrade of the water treatment plant but that won’t have much impact on this years’ budget. It will she says on future budgeting in 2012 and 2013.
A draft budget presented to council on Thursday shows a proposed hike of 7.64 per cent.
Haswell and other members say they want to bring that down, but she says there is still a lot to review to see what exactly needs to be cut.
