Monday, February 8, 2010

More Budget Talk in Collingwood

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Collingwood
by Catherine Thompson    

Collingwood council is getting closer to a draft 2010 budget.

Budget discussions are starting early today for the third straight week to try to reach the February 22nd deadline.

Council today will be going through the rest of the public works budget and also looking at the spending projections for parking and affordable housing.

Council will be deciding on whether to approve the parking budget which includes going to paid on-street parking downtown in August of this year.

Parking at the town lots will continue to be free if council approves this recommendation.

Another big decision on the table is whether to hire four more firefighters.

Council discussed the issue last week and there was some opposition, but Fire Chief Trent Elyea says the additions are necessary to gradually prepare for the possibility of a another fire hall in the future.

The budget is starting with 72.6 million dollars in spending and a two and a half percent tax increase.