City to buy its first electric vehicle, update work fleet
By Mark Squibb | Vol 7 No. 25 (Dec. 19, 2019)
There’ll be no residential or commercial tax increases, and mil rates will remain the same, at 7.4 mils for residential and 11.5 mils for commercial, in Mount Pearl’s balanced 2020 budget.
Council approved the budget during a special meeting of council on Dec. 17, just two weeks until the eve of the new year. By law, all municipalities in Newfoundland must pass balanced budgets before the end of December.
“I think, as I was quoted in the press release, it’s a very practical, and yet progressive budget,” said Mayor Dave Aker. “It fits the times, the economic times, and I think it fits the pocketbook of our residents. Budget 2020 forges ahead on the goals outlined in our strategic plan. It is representative of a city that strikes the balance of practicality and progress. This budget invests in maintaining our strong service standards, while continuing to plan and build for future generations.”
The City will invest $3.8 million next year to replace loaders, trucks, and service vehicles used for snow clearing, pothole repair, and asphalt and curb repair. It will also buy its first ever electric vehicle.
The City also plans to spend $400,000 on economic development, including a new Donovan’s Reimagination Plan, a City Centre Revitalization Plan with a focus on the Waterford River, and a Foreign Direct Investment Strategy, over $170,000 in climate change initiatives, and $750,000 on the installation of new finance, asset management, inventory, permit and payroll systems.
Hikers will be pleased to hear that $125,000 will be spent on renewed signage, as per recommendations in the Trails Master Plan.
The City has allocated $460,000 to operating subsidies for organizations including Admiralty House, Frosty Festival, the Seniors Independence Group and the Mount Pearl Sport Alliance, and has allocated $50,000 for community events such as City Days, Oktoberfest and Best in Mount Pearl awards.
The budget projects that 33 percent of the City’s revenue will come from residential property tax ($17 million), followed closely by business tax, which will supply 24 percent (or just under $13 million.)
As to expenditures, the City will spend it’s largest chunk of it’s budget,24 percent (or, about $13 million), on transportation services, including snow and ice control, vehicle fleet management, street and traffic lights, roads and streets, engineering, and public transit, followed by general government, which includes corporate services, employee benefits and payroll, which weighs in at 17 percent (just short of $9 million).
