Despite repeated attempts to reduce the municipal budget, Kenora City council is ready to pass on an 8.12 percent increase to local ratepayers.
Council discussed the budget at length at their committee of the whole meeting today.
Ryan Marsh is the Director of Finance and the city treasurer and says the city’s budget is up quite a bit more than last year.
“With these all in, the City of Kenora will require an additional $2.8 million dollars in revenues to provide and maintain the existing levels of service,” Marsh told council at its Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday.
Marsh adds that almost half of the increased costs this year are from external agencies.
“Our city capital budget is driving 1.16 percent of that increase, the city operating budget, to maintain services is generating 3.39 percent of that increase and the external organizations is driving a 3.57 percent increase.”
Councillor Barb Manson believes there is still room to cut one percent from the budget.
Council is scheduled to pass the budget at its March 18th open meeting.
