A pair of budget items will be up for discussion at Monday night's city council meeting that will have a major impact on what property owners' tax bills will look like this year.
During a pair of budget meetings last month, city council signed off on the majority of the city's 2021 budget. However, council held off on deciding on how much – if any – of the$6.11 million COVID-19 Safe Restart Grant to use to offset a proposed two per cent tax levy increase.
To keep the tax levy increase to two per cent, as recommended by the city's standing committee on finance and audit, would require using $796,185 of the $6.11 million grant money, according to a report going before council on Monday.
To keep taxes steady at 2020 levels would require using roughly half of the Safe Restart Grant money.
During budget talks in January, members of council appeared divided on what approach to take.
Also up for consideration is a proposal to add two full-time training officers to the city's RCMP detachment. Council deferred a decision on the item until RCMP Supt. Shaun Wright could appear before council to answer additional questions about the proposal.
If approved, the program would be expected to begin in late 2021 and add $96,000 to the city's 2021 budget. In 2022, the cost was estimated at $365,000 – or roughly 0.25 per cent tax levy increase.
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