Some changes will be made to keep the increase to ratepayers minimal.
Most of the day was spent performing a basic overview of projected operating and capital costs for 2009.
At present, operations will cost 14.1 million dollars this year and over five million is tentatively slated for public works capital projects.
If the budget was adopted in its current form, it would mean a 10 percent increase to the tax levy.
That is unlikely to happen and the goal is to keep any increases at three percent or lower.
Mayor Mike Smith says in order to keep the increase down, councillors will have to direct staff to trim just over 500 thousand dollars from the budget.
There’s good news in Public Works. The operating budget there is projected to have a zero percent increase.
Revenues from the new user-pay garbage pickup system are also helping to cover costs.
Mayor Mike Smith says in order to keep the increase down, councillors will have to direct staff to trim just over 500 thousand dollars from the budget.
Councillor Luke Charbonneau says the first day of discussions went like it always does with the discovery that the planned expenditures are greater than the resources available.
Charbonneau is confident council will make careful choices and come up with reasonable final figures.
Mayor Smith says during the second day of discussions on Wednesday is when decisions will be made on what capital projects in the budget should go or stay.
He says they’ll give staff direction and he’s certain they’ll keep increases within three percent.
Smith says whatever council recommends might not be as specific as requesting that particular capital projects be removed.
Increases in some operating costs are unavoidable, such as wages, utilities, and insurance.
