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H1N1 - News |
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Click here to email Scott Johnston
3/10/2010
City council spent much of Wednesday morning talking about the city's budget woes, and what it means for how the city will be run the rest of the year.
Some on council want to hold the line on hiring. Construction is a big problem. The province, because of its cash crunch, is scaling back how much money it's giving the city this year and next. The total amount will come from the province. It will just be spread out over a longer period of time.
"The agreement was $260 million. We're getting $100 million less for each year -- a $200 million short fall," Craig Warnock, the city's chief financial officer, told council.
And, what it means for rehabilitating neighborhoods is, they should be safe for this year but future years is stlll being worked out. Lower construction costs are helping.
Then, there are employee costs. All contracts but one are done, where the city is abosorbing a 4.5% wage increase. That's a problem for one city councillor.
"We have put money aside -- 4.5%," said Coun. Amarjeet Sohi, who's on the Edmonton Police Commission.
However, police are in arbitration, and want more based on higher settlements in other parts of the country. So, if the arbitrator sides with the police association, that cash will have to be found. All this was done around the discussion of a $33 million surplus but as one labour leader suggests, that surplus can quickly disappear in the midst of contract talks. (sj/bp)
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