The new city council made some last-minute changes to this year's budget after a review of the financial plan was brought to Monday night's meeting.
The previous council approved a 2015 operating budget with a 2.5 per cent tax increase in October. That 2.5 per cent consisted of 1.92 per cent to maintain core service levels and a 0.58 per cent increase to the snow clearing levy.
Preparing the budget so early meant staff had to estimate some figures, said deputy financial officer Kris Dalio.
For example, the actual amount of traffic fine sharing revenue the city received from the province was $1,058,426, which was about $235,000 more than the estimate and available for addition to the operating budget.
Council voted to put $200,000 of that money to boost the parks department.
According to a staff report, an additional seasonal gardener could be brought in for $45,000 to maintain the new RCMP detachment, the Fourth Avenue streetscapes, the new Wood Innovation and Design Centre park, Duchess Park and parts of the renovated Canada Games Plaza. Another $35,000 was allocated for equipment, plant material, materials and supplies.
A $120,000 investment in staffing and equipment, supplies and materials could improve the maintenance of the city's natural grass sports fields.
"Let's keep in mind a few years ago we drastically reduced the parks budget which put them in a bit of a bind," said Mayor Lyn Hall. "So last year we needed to play catch up - we unfortunately didn't have the capacity to do that and that was in our downtown area with respect to weeds, making the downtown look aesthetically pleasing."
The extra money also meant council could fulfill a request that came before them earlier in the night from Exploration Place Museum and Science Centre CEO Tracy Calogheros.
The city annually provides the museum with $15,000 towards the upkeep and operation of the Little Prince steam train and Fort George Railway. Though the train has been under the Exploration Place's purview since 2009, it is city property. And as Calogheros laid out, the museum's current budget barely allows them to break even, if they don't take into account the extra staff time required to run the train every summer.
Calogheros's request for an additional $10,000 from the city was approved with the surplus traffic fine revenue.
Council also approved the allocation of an extra $400,000 in capital funds available due to a combination of additional grant money, unspent money from previous projects and a shift in funding sources.
City staff have compiled a list of sidewalk projects that could be done with the money, jumping off of a request from Coun. Jillian Merrick to see a boost in the budget from its current $250,000.
"The recommendations emphasize accessibility; 91 accessible ramps are proposed for rehabilitation in addition to the ramps within the sidewalks projects," said the staff report. "It is felt that this approach would assist in creating pedestrian friendly corridors and assist city snow removal equipment as well."
"I'm just thrilled and over the moon that we've been able to find some money for that component and I think the rest of council probably thrilled that means I don't have to attack the roads budget," said Merrick.
Coun. Albert Koehler raised the issue of using the newfound money to lower the tax levy, but as city manager Kathleen Soltis explained, it wouldn't have been the entire pot that would even be available for that purpose.
"At most it would have been the $200,000, which is operating funds. The capital funds are in a different pot and won't affect the tax levy," she said.
The main money deliberations must be complete and enshrined in bylaw before council can set the year's property tax rates, which has to be done by May 15.
