District of Sechelt council gave three readings to the 2015 budget last week, but one councillor said he could not support some individual projects and would vote against them when they came back to committee.
“I’ll vote in favour of this, but I need to tell you that there are a number of projects contained within the capital budget that I don’t support,” Coun. Doug Wright said at the March 18 council meeting. “I understand that they’ll come back to us and they’ll get voted on individually, and at that time I’ll let you know what those are, and I will not be supporting them.”
Coun. Noel Muller said he shared Wright’s reservations about some of the items in the $7.9-million capital budget.
Muller also noted there had been only one public information session on the budget and the 2016-19 financial plan, held Nov. 27 before the newly elected council had taken office, and he said it troubled him that there had not been more opportunity for public input.
Clarifying his position, Wright said his key concern was whether staff had the ability to complete the projects listed in the 2015 budget.
“I don’t want to see a large carry-over of capital projects into 2016,” he said, “and that’s the premise on which I will object to some of the projects.”
In his report the previous week to council’s finance, culture and economic development committee, chief financial officer Victor Mema said the capital budget contained 33 projects, with 14 of those (worth $3.9 million) continued from last year’s budget.
Mayor Bruce Milne said business cases would have to be made for each project at the committee level and “if there isn’t a business case, we expect you to say no.”
Despite that safeguard, in their committee votes, Wright and Muller opposed the approval of $2.6 million for roads and drainage and $2.2 million for sewer collection and treatment.
Wright also opposed approving $210,000 for vehicles and equipment, while Muller and Coun. Mike Shanks opposed approving $2.1 million for facilities. That figure included $1.6 million for a new parks and public works facility, and $295,000 carried forward from last year for RCMP detachment building improvements and $213,000 carried forward for municipal hall improvements.
On March 18, council gave three unanimous readings to the financial plan bylaw that includes the 2015 capital budget and $17.9-
million operating budget.
The budget does not call for any tax increases.
The financial plan bylaw will come back for final adoption on April 1.
