Councilors Speak In Favour Of Budget

Four councilors are speaking in favour of the approved budget and the tax increase.
Brian Collins says he doesn’t like the tax increase any more than anyone else but notes it was time to lay the budget to rest.
Collins says staff have done their best to find savings and notes the City had to approve the budget because there’s no money coming in.
Collins says the City will be looking at an operational review of all core services.
He notes you likely won’t see the same services at this time next year.
Mary Trist also supported the budget, noting the City can’t afford any more cuts.
Trist says residents are using our parks, ball diamonds, soccer fields and the arena and notes Dryden must continue to be a community where families and young people want to stay.
Ken Moss was the third to vote in favour of the budget stating it’s a difficult balancing act between gutting services and minimizing the impact on taxpayers.
Moss pointed to his department, Public Works, stressing they are already working with a skeleton staff.
Moss says our roads and other critical infrastructure will suffer if additional cuts are made.
Shayne MacKinnon says he’s pleased Council passed the budget.
He says staff worked hard to find common ground.
MacKinnon says when you get advice from your workers, managers, Treasurer, City Manager and many members of the public to pass the budget there should be no choice.
MacKinnon notes some on council simply voted no on principle, defying logic and professional advice.
He says in a statement that it’s tantamount to have someone else do your dirty work for you.
MacKinnon says he looks forward on moving forward and concentrating on hiring a new City Manager and complete an operational review.
(Picture: Treasurer Adrienne Bodnarchuk)