Common Council has been given the first draft of the 2018 General Operating Budget.
The $151.5 million budget calls for cuts in spending of $4.8 million for 2018.
It calls for cuts of $1.25 million to both police and fire departments and Police Chief John Bates admits that is going to be tough on his department and the city residents.
Chief Bates says it means cannibalizing other departments just to staff the front line and less community policing in priority neighbourhoods.
Fire Chief Kevin Clifford said his cost analysis report shows cutting $2.9 million dollars over three years would result in a loss of 27 fire fighters and have a big impact on any large scale fire events in the city.
Meantime Mayor Don Darling wrapped up the meeting by saying we can’t remain at the staus quo. He says with growth not increasing since 2014 and costs climbing by 12 percent Saint John can’t sustain this anymore.
The next step in the budgetary process is the open Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, the budget could be passed by the middle of December.
