Quinte West Director of Corporate and Financial Services David Clazie, during council’s first 2019 capital budget meeting, on February 5, 2019. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Quinte West Council has taken its first look at the 2019 capital budget which includes a total $13.1 million in proposed projects.
Director of Corporate and Financial Services David Clazie presented his capital budget outline on Tuesday, focusing specifically on the year ahead, since a new strategic plan is in the works this year as well.
He says the city is in a good financial position to afford the planned expenses.
Of that $13.1 million, $5.8 million will be spent on roads and bridge projects, one of which garnered a lot of interest from council members.
$300,000 has been earmarked for a “shave and pave”of King Street, but many councillors didn’t think that expense made sense, since there’s a more in-depth reconstruction project planned for that road in the next couple of years.
Director of Public Works and Environmental Services Chris Angelo says with design work still to be done for both King Street and Division Street, that idea was just one option for council to consider.
Angelo added that when the major projects begin on King Street and Division Street, public consultation will be a big part of the process.
Quinte West Director of Public Works and Environmental Services Chris Angelo, during council’s first 2019 capital budget meeting, on February 5, 2019. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Among the other more expensive sections, $1,575,000 is earmarked for public works facilities, $1,260,000 for corporate facilities and arenas, and $1,140,000 for building planning and economic development.
Mayor Jim Harrison says it was a productive first meeting, with more discussion to come.
You can click here to read a thorough breakdown of the capital budget and its proposed projects, and click here to see a full list of proposed capital projects and how they’ll be paid for.
Some slides from Clazie’s presentation can also be seen below.
Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison during council’s first 2019 capital budget meeting, on February 5, 2019. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Clazie also presented a separate capital budget for water and wastewater projects, totalling $16.7 million.
$2,135,000 is for water projects like lab analyzers, a truck replacement and a study to look at resolving capacity issues at the Frankford Water Plant.
Another $14,610,000 will be put towards wastewater projects including $13.3 million for the remainder of the forcemain across the Trent River, twinning of the main through Centennial Park and the upgrades to the Dundas Pumping station.
You can click here to read the full water and wastewater capital budget report and click here for the full project spending and funding breakdown.
Council will hold another special capital budget meeting on February 19, with operating budget discussions still to come as well.
We won’t know how those budgets will affect the tax rate until both are passed in the spring.
