Common Councillors will be hearing an update from the Growth Committee tonight. Mayor Don Darling sees the Growth Committee as being a key element in future economic prosperity for the city.
The Finance Committee has been warned the budget shortfall next year could be as high as $5.4 million. Common Councillor Gerry Lowe is concerned espcially with city revenue being flat, wages rising and an office vacancy rate of more than 20 per cent but he remains positive about the future with good signs from the port and its modernisation.
One budgetary assumption for next year is that the unconditional grant funding from the province will be reduced by $3 million and the city’s growth in revenue will not keep up to inflation.
Meanwhile, a petition is likely to be presented tonight to Common Council which calls for the escalators that lead from Market Square to the pedway on the way to Brunswick Square be fixed.
