This year's proposed budget for the City of Morden will see a significant increase in spending. The proposed spending increase is 23% from 2022.
"About 17% of that is work being taken under special projects like wastewater, as well as funded programs like under the DFA for the Alvey Street and Parkhill Street Bridge," explained Mayor Brandon Burley. "So, if we remove those one-time expenditures that are being done with grants in, it works its way down to about a 6% increase over previous years on the capital side."
Burley noted some of the spending will also be 're-capturable.' He pointed out the $1.7-million earmarked for development of the new industrial land as an example, noting the initial investment should end up back on the books through the purchase of lots.
"I saw the original numbers and the work that was done to bring preliminary numbers to council, and the amount of paring down that occurred was substantial. And the ability of our directors to work within what we were able to provide them, I think was significant as well as their creativity."
Meanwhile, the city's transfer from reserves is going up 48 %. He says there is currently money in the reserve for the potential replacement of the fire department's ladder truck this year. He notes, with supply chain issues, it will likely be a two year wait for the replacement anyway.
"Overall, I'm proud that we're in a position where wastewater is getting funded and Pembina River Diversion project is moving ahead, where we can now calculate and project where we're going, and we can start building the infrastructure for that. That, to me is significant. I don't want to call it a problem-solving budget, but in many ways it is. Everything from Alvey Street Bridge to Parkville Street Bridge the things that just were not planned or done with enough foresight, I think this budget starts to cast a much longer-range view of our community and based on last census numbers I think it's the right approach to take."