Dryden Council has approved the 2021 Municipal Budget.
It includes no tax hike and no increase in water and sewer rates.
The fiscal document includes operating and capital spending for the year to the tune of $14,476,001.
The budget gained unanimous approval.
However, Councillor Shayne MacKinnon says the City must start looking to the future.
“There’s many items on this budget that will assist us in providing proper service and facilities that all taxpayers have come to expect. But like many other budgets this one does not make our City better. It doesn’t build our City, it barely maintains it.
MacKinnon notes 22 critical projects were cut from the Capital Budget.
“There are many, many items left out of this budget which need attention now including paving projects, watermains, the pedestrian overpass and our precious arena, and that’s just to name a few.”
MacKinnon says the City must do something to address our aging infrastructure.
“If we had moderate increases over the last few years we would be able to take more of those projects on. On our own taxation base rate and not rely so heavily on grants.”
He notes it wasn’t appropriate to question a tax hike at this time because of the pandemic but adds “We need to build our City, not struggle to maintain it. So I’ll be supporting this budget tonight but when we return to normal, and we will return to normal, I expect that we strongly consider modest increases in taxation.”
In drafting and approving the budget Councillor John Carlucci states “It was a huge accomplishment. It was a lot of work. We had to follow rules and guidelines to make this happen and it’s more manageable. So I thank you to Council for staying the course and I think that’s a huge plus for this community.”
2021 Capital Plan includes:
-Public Works: Mechanical Street Sweeper
-Public Works: Wheel Loader
-Information Technology: Server Virtualization Equipment Replacement
-Fire: Pumper
-Fire: SCBA Replacement
-Community Services/Recreation: Recreation Centre Mechanical Retrofit (Phase 1) ***Portion paid for by External/Government Funding
-Public Works: Traffic Signal System Replacement ***Portion paid for by External/Government Funding
-Facilities: City Hall Renovation and Front Counter Consolidation ***Portion paid for by External/Government Funding
-Airport: Sweeper ***Completely covered by External/Government Funding
-Airport: Sand Shed ***Completely covered by External/Government Funding
-Airport: Regulator Replacement
-Aaron Park: Boat Launch Replacement ***Portion paid for by External/Government Funding
-Information Technology: Firewall Replacement
-Public Works: Barclay Landfill Closure
-Airport: Groundside Tenant Hanger Access/Parking Lot
-Airport: Maintenance Shop Roof Replacement
-Public Works: Capital Sidewalk and Curb Replacement ***Completely covered by External/Government Funding
-Public Works: Sanitary Manhole Replacement
-Public Works: Water System Valve Install and Replacement
-Public Works: Victoria Street Dock Replacement ***Completely covered by External/Government Funding
-Fire: Bunker Gear (incl. Helmets, Boots, Gloves and Balaclavas)
-Library: Library Books
-Community Services/Recreation: Fitness Equipment
-Public Works: Streetlight Pole and Wiring Replacement
-Information Technology: Desktop, Laptop and Printer Replacement
-Public Works: Surface Treated Road Capital Rehab ***Completely covered by External/Government Funding
-Information Technology: Host Server/Cluster Replacement
-Information Technology: 44″ Scanner Replacement
-Community Services/Recreation: Museum Vestibule ***Portion paid for by External/Government Funding
-Public Works: Swanson Creek Guiderail Replacement ***Completely covered by External/Government Funding
-Community Services/Recreation: Air Handler #2 ***Completely covered by External/Government Funding
-Airport: Maintenance Shop Heater Replacements-Upgrade to Natural Gas
-Cemetery: Road and Parking Lot work
-Facilities: City Hall Exterior Capital Maintenance
-Facilities: Public Works Garage Roof Repair
-Facilities: Fire Hall 2 Drainage and Pit
-Fire: Hall 2 Garage Doors
-Fire: Equipment Truck Replacement
-Fire: Command Vehicle
-Airport: Airport Truck Replacement
-Fire: Communication Equipment Replacement
-Fleet: Gas Powered Mower Replacement
-Fleet: Wheel Loader Replacement
-Fleet: Loader Mount Snow Blower
-Fleet: Public Works 3/4 Ton Truck (Water Distribution)
-Public Works: Parks Equipment Replacement
-Fire: Positive Pressure Fan
-Police: Dryden Police Service Cruisers x2
-Public Works: Water Treatment Plant Window Replacement
-Public Works: Water Treatment Plant Plumbing Vent Piping
-Public Works: Water Treatment Plant Roof Replacement
-Public Works: Water Treatment Plant Sludge Blowdown Valves
-Public Works: Water Treatment Plant Entrance Vestibule
-Community Services/Recreation: Arena Sliding Door ***Completely covered by External/Government Funding
-Community Services/Recreation: Pool Accessible Changeroom ***Completely covered by External/Government Funding
-Airport: Terminal Building Refurbishment ***Completely covered by External/Government Funding
