Prince George, B.C.-  Council  for the City of Prince George  is back to work  today to talk about the budget, and first on the list is the snow control levy.

The budget calls for a boost to the levy by  $700 thousand  in 2016 and $150 thousand in each of the following two years.

That means, the snow control  levy would be  an even $7 million dollars  next year.

Sounds like a lot, but  the snowfall  in the first part of this year  has eaten up  $4.6 million of the  $6.3 million dollar budget.   Although Mother Nature has been kind, so far,  City staff  estimate  the actual  budget for  this year will  hit $6.9 million.

The extra  money for snow control would also  help create a reserve to handle those extra heavy   snowfall years. That’s why  staff are calling for  further increases in 2017 and 2018.

Also on the budget  agenda today,  three  enhancements that would,  if approved,  increase the tax levy.

Council will be asked to make a decision on the request of the RCMP to increase their  budget  by about $481 thousand to fund three new officers.

There is also a report on what  would happen if  the City offered ‘twoonie swimming’ on  Pro D days .

The third enhancement  has to do with adding lighting to  the Veterans plaza in front of City Hall.   That project  could cost, at the very least, $88.5 thousand dollars.

The Capital   Financial Plan is also on the agenda.   It outlines  $36.2 million dollars  worth of projects which are funded for  2016,  and lays out the capital projects through to  2020.

As is the case with all budget meetings,  the public will have 15 minutes at the beginning of each meeting to  make submissions.  The first session is set to start at 3:30,  the second is slated for 6 p.m.