Council budget mtg1 Reductions in capital spending, finding efficiencies in the department and more people moving to e-billing; those are three ways City Staff and Council have proposed to bring the water and wastewater budget down to a 1.84-percent increase.

When budget talks opened up, this department was looking at a 4.6% increase.

Chair of Engineering and Public Works Tanya Vrebosch says the majority of council agreed on moving forward with the 1.84%, and it includes fluoride remaining in the city’s drinking water. Meantime, Council also met recently to discuss the General Government Committee Budget.

Chair Sheldon Forgette says they will also be seeing a low increase at 0.74%.

Forgette says it could’ve been in the negatives, but there was an area of need. He says they have added a second city solicitor to help with the work load.

These are both preliminary budgets and still have to come forward and be approved in council chambers.