Moncton City Council approved the capital and utility budgets in principle this week totalling $156 million.
Deputy Treasurer Gregg Houser says the biggest cost this year is paying for the downtown events centre.
“Total capital cost of that is just over $112 million including the facility, the plaza, other infrastructure, things like that,” says Houser. “The remaining part is basically a normal storm sewer master plans, the roads, parks, [and] trails.”
Houser explains a little further what that works entails.
“Most of the parks we’re doing this year are basic refurbs of parks,” Houser says. “You know, and enhancing some trails, so it really is that infrastructure of the city we’re trying to maintain and keep that because there are a few growth projects on the way.”
Houser says the net expenditure amounts to $156 million, but the City doesn’t pay the entire amount.
“We do have a significant amount of funding that we get from third parties such as Build Canada, the province, different things like that,” says Houser. “So that’s really the big picture, no major changes occur here, just really focusing on priorities.”
The total capital outlay for the City this year once all the recovery and previous authority is factored in reaches $19.9 million.
Councillors Paul Pellerin and Bryan Butler voted against, with Councillors Charles Leger, Greg Turner, Susan Edgett, Rob McKee, Pierre Boudreau, Blair Lawrence and Mayor Dawn Arnold voted in favour, with Councillors Shawn Crossman and Paulette Theriault absent.
