Budget Overview

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C. -  The City of Prince George has begun it's budget deliberations with  an overview of the  projects and plans which Council has  shown  support for over the past year.

The base budget for 2008 already  includes the funding for some projects which were started last year, for instance,  the committment to  fund operating costsof the Northern Sport Centre. Last year the amount was $150 thousand, this year, the amount is $300 thousand.  There was also funding for four members of the RCMP, dollars for maintenance for the senior's centre, an asset management study, and some capital projects like the  Cameron Street Bridge and the new RCMP  facility.

Council was reminded of the latest "Quality of Life survey",which  indicated  support for increasing taxes  to maintain services and the use of user fees.  There were 2000 surveys sent out,  400 were completed and returned. 

Roads and street maintenance, and pest control show the lowest areas of satisfaction ratings, while  the fire department and  library services received high rankings.

The 2007 results also indicated 80% support for maintaining current infrastructure.

The budget overview  outlined how the object of the  base budget is to maintain services, but  with a 2.5% tax increase.

The breakdown of who pays what, when it comes to taxation :

• Residential,  53%
• Business      25%
• Major Industry / light industry 18%

So besides taxation, where will the dollars  come from?  According to Finance Services Manager, Sandi Stribany there are revenues  from:

• new construction ($850 thousand)
• user fee increases
• appropriation of 2007 surplus
• gaming revenue (  $3.11 million  of which $1.25 millis  set aside for grant programs, the balance is transfered to reserves)
• traffic fine revenue ($143 thousand increase in 2008)
• Terasen Franchise fee ( anticipating a $75 thousand dollar increase)
• Reserves ( eg: snow control road rehabilitation)

With that information, Council  is now prepared to start deliberating  department by department budgets.

The major itemson the  request list are:

• $134 thousand for Air Quality improvement initiatives
• $170,000 for pothole patching
• $260 thousand for parks funding ( maintenance)
• $185,000for capital asset  accounting
• $245 thousand, fire  rescue truck staffing
• $350 thousand boulevard ehancements
• $300 thousand for  2009 curling pre trial qualifiers

and  several other requests ranging from  $6 thousand to $166 thousand dollars.

If all  29 requests are approved, the  tax levy wouild have to increase by 7.59%

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