Belleville sets capital budget, tax hike under 1%

Belleville city council wrapped up its capital budget debate in less than a day on Tuesday, making few changes.

The city’s spending on capital projects sits at $39.4 million, representing a tax increase of less than one-percent.

Meanwhile officials are looking to the upper tier governments, provincial and federdal, to ante up for 2019.

During budget deliberations of less than five hours, council made a few small cuts.

Hinze noted $6.1 million is paid for through taxation. She said there are relatively few new projects and transportation issues take up 40% of the budget.

The Deputy treasurer also pointed out that the previous provincial government increased the gas tax but “Premier Ford doesn’t see an increase.”

Mayor Mitch Panciuk tells Quinte News there are a couple of priorities.

Mayor Panciuk sends a warning about next year since the city has received no provincial or federal grants so far.

The mayor will meet with the local MPPs and MPs this weeks to discuss the funding matter.

Council approved $150,000 for a”paved boulevard” to be constructed along the north side of Maitland Drive, between Sidney Street and Highway 2, but rejected suggestions for a concrete sidewalk until the area develops further.

The issue of the Bridge Street (Lower) bridge was put forward to another year while work goes ahead on the Sagonaska Bridge. Council approved $3.3 million for the Sagonaska project in 2019.

As council prepared to go through the budget items, Councillor Bill Sandison raised the issue of the percentage of money allocated toward the project, $3.7 million compared to $3 million for combined wards, and the remainder going to Ward 1. Sandison called for a more “balanced or reasonable” level of funding.”

Mayor Panciuk said this might be something that could be looked at for next year.

Council also set its sights on the operating budget coming up in April as Councillor Paul Carr introduced a motion  that city staff present those figures at just 1.5% above the 2018 budget, with no reduction in service.

Following are some of the projects approved by council:

Watermain replacement – $4.3 million

Sidney St. corridor improvements – $7.2 million

Annual rural roads treatment – $1.2 million

Road surface replacement – $1.2 million

Catherine St. Pedestrian bridge replacement – $1.2 million

Sagonaska Bridge rehabilitation – $3.3 million

Bell Boulevard widening, environmental assessment – $200,000

New traffic signals, Victoria and Herchimer avenues $140,000

Bus terminal renovation – $350,000

Meyers Pier boardwalk – $150,000

Pinnacle Playhouse fire alarm – $100,000

Mayor’s boardroom and assistant’s office – $40,000

Bus stop upgrades – $100,000

New bus shelters – $80,000

Chara control in Victoria Harbour – $40,000

Pinnacle Playhouse Marquee sign – $94,000

Field of Ability project – $880,000

Belleville Lawn Bowling Club relocation – $400,000

Vacuum truck replacement (to clean sanitary mainlines and catch basins) – $580,000

Loyalist Secondary Plan sewage pump station (environmental assessment) – $750,000