Dryden in Deep Financial Trouble

The City of Dryden is warning of major cuts.
Acting Treasurer Adrienne Bodnarchuk presented an update on the City’s finances last night and the municipality is carrying $27.5-million in debt.
The City has incurred $16-million in debt over the past 4-years.
The City only has $163,000 left in reserves and the level of cash flow from operations and capital expenditures can’t be sustained.
Mayor Craig Nuttall says the City is in rough shape and can no longer spend money.
He says their debt and overdraft limits are so high that banks are telling them “enough is enough”.
Nuttall says City departments will have to find cost savings and stresses there will be cuts to services.
He says Council will look at several options including merging services.
Nuttall is asking the public to do their part.
He says user groups must generate more revenue.
Nuttall says he is tired of driving by the ball diamond and the rink and seeing both facilities sitting empty.
Nuttall warns one option is closing rink #2 at the Arena.
He says he doesn’t want to do that but stresses local groups must generate more activity.
Staff are planning on contacting the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to discuss strategies to fix the problem.
(Photo: Acting Treasurer Adrienne Bodnarchuk)