By Mark Squibb
Mount Pearl council has approved a balanced budget of $62.6 million that will see no tax increases, despite a $3.9 million, or seven percent, increase in operating expenses.
Council warned that some residents may see an increase on their tax bills due to rising property values assessed by the provincial Municipal Assessment Agency.
“We’ve had enough budget control to ensure that we haven’t overstretched ourselves, we have a lot of working capital in the bank and so don’t have to borrow as much for big projects,” said Mayor Dave Aker. “By investing in the future and managing your dollars, you can position yourself so you’re not freewheeling out of control. The new Community Centre is not anticipated to have any budget overruns. It may be a bit late getting constructed (fall instead of winter), but it’s going to last 50 years and we’re not going to see any cost overruns.”
One buzz word of the night was ‘safety,’ which was expected given the emphasis council placed on public safety following a spat of violent incidents that rocked Mount Pearl around this time last year. To that end, the City will spend $200,000 to implement a five-year Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, as well $200,000 on traffic calming measures to improve pedestrian safety. The City is also planning a pilot project to make the section of Smallwood Drive between Commonwealth Avenue and Old Placentia Road more pedestrian and cyclist friendly. The roadway will temporarily be reduced from four lanes to three, with a centre turning lane added, and space reallocated for foot and bicycle traffic. The City will also spend $1.3 million on new sidewalks and pedestrian crosswalks in Donovans Business Park to improve life for the 5,000 or so people who work there.
“Our survey with the business owners up there suggest they want to see more pedestrian activity,” said Aker. “When employees come to work, they want a nice place to get around. So, we’re going to be putting in crosswalks and sidewalks in some of the main areas. We already did this a few years ago with Stone Avenue. We want people to be able to get out and go to a restaurant, get a breath of fresh air, go for a walk. We’re working with the owners up there, and that’s the feedback they’ve been giving us. They want to have more offerings for their pedestrians. And that all goes back to job creation, doesn’t it? If you don’t have a nice work environment, you’re not necessarily going to attract people to work. It also encourages using public transit more.”
To that end, the City will extend Metro Bus hours.
“We have heard from the business community about the need for transit options that offer a more convenient commute to and from work in Mount Pearl,” added councillor Bill Antle, who presented the new budget. “In this budget, we’re taking a fresh look at public transit routes to ensure they truly meet the needs of our community. Our goal is simple: make transit as efficient, reliable, and convenient as possible for the people who depend on it ever day. By extending service hours on Route 21 and providing all-day coverage on Route 22, we’re improving mobility for workers and residents, reducing congestion, lowering emissions, and strengthening connections between neighbourhoods and businesses.”
Also in the spending plans are $565,000 for trailway enhancements, including construction of a new washroom, laying of granular stone in select areas, bridge repairs, the continuing roll out of more trail lighting, and $250,000 for phase one of the Commonwealth Avenue bridge replacement.
On the recreation front, staff have budgeted $87,000 for organizations within the Mount Pearl Sport Alliance, $200,000 to fully resurface most of the city’s outdoor courts, and $100,000 for the replacement of playground equipment at Branscombes Pond and Farrell Drive playgrounds. The City will also fund the conceptual design of a new park off Larsen Street.
Some $1.8 million will go bolstering the City’s fleet of vehicles, including the purchase of electric or hybrid vehicles “when practical and cost-effective,” said Antle. Some $1.3 million is earmarked for road upgrades, and $606,000 for facility improvements in addition to $1.5 million for cost-shared infrastructure projects.
Council approved the budget and tax structure unanimously.
Mount Pearl councillor Bill Antle presented council with a balanced budget of $62.6 million last week that will see no increases in the mil rate or commercial taxes. Mark Squibb photo