It’s going to be tough slugging ahead when it comes to the 2011 Kincardine budget.
It wasn’t pretty as Kincardine Council threw around ideas about how to handle the upcoming budget discussions.
As administration was looking for some direction on how to prepare the budget papers for council’s consideration, CAO John deRosenroll was given a clear message.
This will be a budget of austerity and it could mean service cutbacks if not staff cutbacks.
Councillor Mike Leggett says you do what you have to do and if that means staff cutbacks or service reductions then so be it.
He says they can’t keep increasing user fees and the taxes in order to cover all the costs.
Meanwhile, it was suggested that there also be what was called a “Holiday from Capital expenditures,” meaning put a freeze on all capital projects.
Mayor Larry Kraemer says it has merit.
He says the good news is for the last 12 years Kincardine has had continuous capital improvement of its infrastructure in many areas such as roads, sewers and recreation just to name a few.
Mayor Kraemer says a huge budget challenge lies ahead.
Budget sessions start next month.
