On December 14, 2020, Council adopted the 2021 Municipal Budget. Following this date, updated information was obtained which required that the Treasurer submit a report to Council in January 2021 requesting approval on certain amendments to the previously approved budget.
It was also reported that the City has received $87,000 in additional Provincial Safe Restart Funding, and the budget has been adjusted to reflect restructuring in the
Provincial Offences office.
Treasurer Lansdell-Roll notes this has allowed them to balance the 2021 Operating Budget without having to draw on the City’s Operating Reserve.
One encouraging outcome of these adjustments is that the City of Dryden is now able to explore some options as it has deposited $116,099 into what is being called a COVID Contingency Fund.
Lansdell-Roll says the excess money can potentially be used to offset Recreation Centre revenue losses due to 2021 COVID related closures.
Another option may be expanding this year’s Capital Plan to include such things as Pedestrian Overpass Exterior Maintenance, or Library HVAC Replacement.
Lansdell-Roll further notes that the money can also be used to cover infrastructure and operating costs to resume in-person court with Provincial Offences.
In January 2021, the City entered into a Neighbouring Community Funding Agreement with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO). The budget has been adjusted to reflect the $624,078 in funding to be received under the NWMO’s 2021 Learn More Program. These funds are not unrestricted, in that they have corresponding expense budgets attached to an approved Work Plan. This agreement was entered into for the very specific purpose of furthering the community’s learning and understanding of their role as a potential neighbouring community in the Adaptive Phased Management Site Selection process of the NWMO, Canada’s long-term plan for the storage of used nuclear fuel.
