Dryden Council Approves 2011 Budget

Dryden Council has approved the 2011 budget.
Taxes will be going up 2.8%, the cost of inflation.
The operating budget stands at nearly $25-million, 13 and a half of which is made up of salaries and benefits.
The capital budget is just over $25-million.
Capital projects include the replacement of a pumper fire truck and fire vehicle as well as police vehicle.
Other work includes sidewalk rehabilitation, new outdoor fitness park equipment and sewer and storm rehabilitation.
Phase 1 and 2 of Arena renovations are also on the list, but Council notes that project depends on Federal and Provincial matching funding.
The budget contains a 5% increase in most user fees as well as a hiring freeze for 2011.
Councilor Mike Wood was the only one to vote against the budget, noting that the City removed Norwill and Centennial capital projects from the list.
The City also decreased the Dryden Development Corporation budget by $100,000, trimmed the Police budget by over $88,000 and cut $42,000 from the training budget.