By Khang Nguyen

Council makes big cuts on first day of budget meetings

Nov 20, 2015 | 5:16 AM

After all was said and done, City Council was able to cut $283,660 from the 2016 budget – about a one per cent decrease in taxes from the proposed four per cent.

Several cuts came from proposed staffing additions by city administration.

This includes a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) supervisor position that would have cost $84,890 and the respective software costing $25,000.

GIS, a system that would help organize the city’s maintenance and upgrades, would decrease consultations costs up to 15 per cent, said city manager Jim Toye.

“We are in need of this. In our whole movement as administration to be innovative, be more effective and efficient. This is a piece of software that will be key in the way we move forward in the city,” Toye presented to council.

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He also noted that cities like Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and Kindersley all have GIS.

Despite that, council voted to remove the software and position from the budget. Mayor Greg Dionne said it all comes down to staff.

“We looked at our model and we’ve increased staff sufficiently,” he said after the meeting. “We feel enough is enough. If you want that position, you find it within but we’re not going to add any more staff.”

Council also cut the requests of a safety consultation position saving $97,400.

Mayor and councillor salaries remained the same from last year. Council also rejected a $10,000 upgrade to their lounge.

“How much time do we spend there?” Coun. Lee Atkinson asked rhetorically.

On the other hand, there will be $91,000 worth of upgrades done to City Hall including $35,000 to replace the north and west doors and $20,000 to improve Memorial Square with new lighting and to refinish the cenotaph.

Upgrades to other facilities include improved cash registers at the Art Hauser Centre worth $51,000, $22,000 to improve the heating system at the Alfred Jenkins House, and $55,000 to repair the rink boards at the Kinsmen Arena.

Council also voted to no longer cut the grass for the school division, removing $49,190 from their revenue. However, the cut will shift three staff positions to other city concerns such as walkway and park maintenance.

The majority of budget deliberations will continue on Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On tap are budgets for public works, police services, and capital projects.

knguyen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @khangvnguyen