Mayor Ruth Lovell Stanners says a number of major projects survived the cuts over the last two days.
Council will spend some 400 thousand dollars on Harrison Park over the next few years, doing pool repairs, bank stablization and upgrading the campgrounds.
Council also decided to keep funding in the budget to cover the cost of Cenotaph restoration and to get lead pipes removed from downtown homes.
15 thousand dollars was cut from the planned Free summer weekend events along the harbourfront but not a lot of fat was found on Day 2 of the budget discussions.
Mayor Lovell Stanners says they did ask the Police services to review their budget to see if there were any savings to be found. The police budget is up 7% over last year partly because of retention pay for officers.
A public meeting will be held in the next few weeks for feedback, and then the budget will be finalized in March.
The Mayor says the 3.55% will likely translate into a 3% overall tax hike in 2009 for Owen Sound residents, once the County and school board budgets are factored in.
