City Council has given the green light to the 2017 operating budget with a 1.92 per cent levy increase, after growth.

This after the city police budget came back with about $70,000 in savings.

Councillor Mike Anthony thanked the police board for looking at their budget again.

“I appreciate their view that 3.6 per cent is where their comfortable and where they feel they need to stop at. That’s still a little too rich for my blood and I won’t be able to support this, but I did want to thank them, I wanted to thank them publicly,” he stated.

Three councillors voted against accepting the new police budget, but it still passed with majority support.

Overall, the city budget maintains current service levels and invests for future growth.

It also earmarks funding for capital infrastructure.

The total approved gross operating budget is $119.6 million.

“Council and staff have worked hard to deliver a fiscally responsible budget that represents a balance between maintaining necessary service levels and investing for future growth while also accounting for growth and inflationary pressures,” said Deputy Mayor Sheldon Forgette.