With the city facing a 3.17 percent tax levy increase before growth the city manager is suggesting it has been a challenge for administration to get there.
Norm Gale notes there are extraordinary external pressures the city is facing and that includes decreases in provincial funding or increases in levies from other agencies that rely on city monies to operate.
The city manager also notes the demands on the police and EMS are changing causing added budget stress. Gale points out the costs for policing are increasing faster than any other service.
With all that in mind, he is not about to speculate if city council will be able to reduce the levy increase to around 2 percent as was the case last year. He says “where this budget lands will be determined by council.”
Listen to 99.9 The Bay this morning at 8:35 as John Ongaro interviews city officials Norm Gale and Linda Evans on the 2020 budget.
