Council comes up with 19 cost saving ideas

February 10, 2012

It’s no secret now that the City is facing a $3.6 million deficit in the 2012 budget.

City Council has listed their top 19 potential cost saving ideas and sent them out to city staff for comments and suggestions.

Cost saving ideas include:

. Reduce fire crews from a four-man to a three-man crew.

. Close recreational facilities - close the Sportsplex for six months or a year.

. Decrease maintenance in parks including irrigation, grass trimming, garbage pick-up, mowing, horticulture, weeding and maintenance

. Increase Business License Fees

. Economic Development - coordinate costs and services

. Decrease maintenance and repair levels on city facilities

. Reduce Council contingency

. Reduce vehicle fleet

. Reduce council/mayor travel and conference expenditures

. Do not participate in Communities in Bloom (international competition)

. Review utility rates for water, sewer and storm water

. Contract out cemetery maintenance

. Increase parks user fees

. Reduce Advisory Committee support

. Reduce the number of Blackberries and review contract for savings

. Delete Skate Board Park Host positions

. Review debt financing impact for 2012 projects

. Explore contract adjustments for garbage collection, yard waste collection and yard waste drop off centre

. Reduce bylaw enforcement.

The memo sent out to city staff made it clear that there were no final decisions made at this point. Council will discuss these options at next council meeting on Tuesday Feb. 14^th