It’s back to the drawing board after council in Dryden rejected a budget increase of 4.3 percent.
A recorded vote had a narrow win for the nays of four to three.
Councilor Bryan Tardiff was one of the nay votes and believes the city needs to still go with a higher increase of 6.4 percent.
“We’re dealing with the here and now and as much as I hate to see this increase, I thinks it’s the most stable position we can put the town in going forward, is going to the 6.4 (percent increase),” Tardiff told council last night.
“We know what we have and we know what we can generate from it, and it’s safe.”
Councilor Michelle Price was one of those who supported the lower increase.
“I’m still very comfortable in staying with the 4 plus increase that we discussed at our previous meeting.”
Mayor Jack Harrison and councilor Martin MacKinnon also supported the budget by-law with a 4.3 percent increase.
Other councilors wanted the higher increase, but that wasn’t on the table last night for a vote.
One of the key sticking points is funding for the Eagles Landing Golf course, and how much the city should devote to its operation.
Under the lower budget increase, infrastructure upgrades would not be included, but councilor Price was optimistic that a grant application to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund would be successful to make improvements at the municipally owned golf course.
Also, rehabilitation work on Memorial Avenue would be postponed for one year with the 4.3 percent budget increase.
(File photo)
Dryden city council will vote again next month on the budget proposal.
