Budgeting

A preliminary budget was presented at last night’s city council meeting.
The preliminary tax levy for 2017 is 111.3-million dollars——which is 4.6-million dollars more than the 2016 numbers.
That means that city council will be wrestling with a 6.63% overall tax impact—–2.24% of that figure can be blamed on last year’s decision to reduce the levy by using the surplus and reserves.
City finance staff indicated to council last night that they aren’t expecting a surplus this year and its hoped there isn’t a deficit when the final numbers are in.
Budget deliberations are scheduled for December 5th and the 6th if necessary.
Meantime, the city will be putting on a public open house budget session tomorrow afternoon from 4:30 until 5:30 in the Russ Ramsay Board Room at Civic Centre.
City staff will be on hand to answer questions.