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Dryden council narrowly approves budget

A 4-3 vote Monday night passed a budget that includes a 6.4 per cent tax levy increase.
harrison
Dryden Mayor Jack Harrison

DRYDEN – By the closest of votes, Dryden council has approved the city’s 2024 operating budget.

A 4-3 vote Monday night passed a budget that includes a 6.4 per cent tax levy increase instead of the 4.5 per cent increase brought to council last month.

The mayor was in the minority on the vote, but said Tuesday he wasn’t very disappointed with the result.

“Well, I was hoping to keep our tax levy increase more reasonable,” Mayor Jack Harrison told Newswatch.

“I thought the 4.5 per cent would be more supported by our citizens,” he explained.

“But there are a lot of challenges with our assets and the maintenance of roads, so I can understand council’s (decision).

“I accept council’s decision and now it’s time to move forward and allow staff to continue to put out the tenders and start the work of moving our city ahead on these projects,” Harrison said.

Road maintenance costs include a fix-up project on Memorial Avenue, estimated at more than $726,000 with a net cost to the city (after external funding) of $206,675.

Coun. Catherine Kiewning, one of the four who voted yes on the budget, said Tuesday she’s “happy to see a lot of projects regarding infrastructure in our budget.”

The tax levy requirement to meet the 2024 operating and capital budget estimates is $16.1 million, according to the budget bylaw presented to council on Monday.

The largest category of operating expenses is policing at $5.55 million, up nine per cent from 2023.



Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

About the Author: Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After working at newspapers across the Prairies, Mike found where he belongs when he moved to Northwestern Ontario.
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