Final Meeting Ahead Of Budget Approval

Friday, 8 March 2019 07:18

Budget talks continued at the latest Woodstock City council meeting.

WOODSTOCK - After holding their third revenue budget meeting, Woodstock City council will now look over the entire budget before making a decision.

Council's latest meeting saw three boards each present their budget proposal, and it also saw volunteers from each board come out to show their support.

Mayor Trevor Birtch says it's great to see the community show their support.

"So tonight Woodstock City council heard from our Art Gallery Board, our Library Board and our Police Services Board and these are great investments here in our community, from the cultural side as well as the protection side. And it's always nice when I look out into the chamber and we see all of the volunteers that represent those boards. They put in a lot of time reviewing the programs, reviewing the numbers, making sure that we get the best services for our citizens at the best prices."

Birtch says council will approve the final budget at their next meeting.

"So each councillor will be able to make recommendations and move motions and we'll see where we end up on March 21st, and it is an open and public meeting."

Director and Curator of the Woodstock Art Gallery Mary Reid presented with the Chair of the Woodstock Art Gallery Advisory Board, Brian Hadley. The WAG's operating budget last year was $654,276 and their budget proposal was for an increase of $71,484, a 10.9 percent increase from 2018. $63,404 is at a fixed cost and it will go towards staff, while $8,000.00 will go towards their services.

Police Chief William Renton of the Woodstock Police represented the Police Services Board and their budget proposal was for an increase of $853,511, a 5.97 percent increase from last year's budget, which was $14,062,252. Their projected revenue for 2019 is $1,744,970. Their projected budget for 2019 is $14,915,763 and the money will go towards staff.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Karen Scott was alongside the Chair of the Woodstock Public Library Ken Whiteford to present their budget proposal, asking for an increase of $103,309, a 4.38 percent increase from their budget in 2018, which was $2,357,090. Their 2019 operating budget is $2,460,399. Their projected revenue for 2019 is $4,000.00 and the funds will go towards staff, free programming and new initiative Wi-Fi hot spots.

The total estimated expenditure for this year's revenue budget is $78,887,040.00, an increase of $1,861,983.00 from 2018.