Canada/Investments of $68.3 million in Saguenay for 2023

Published on 30/11/2022 | La rédaction

Canada

The City of Saguenay unanimously adopted its three-year plan for 2023-2025 at a special meeting on Tuesday.

As a result, Councillors supported an annual municipal investment of $57.2 million. With the addition of government grants, the total capital budget will be $68.3 million for the first of the next three years.

This is the first year that elected officials have adopted capital planning before the municipal budget is tabled.

We do the plan before the budget because it allows us to be ready to call for tenders at the beginning of the year, if only for paving. We hope to get better prices, be more efficient and do our work earlier," said Saguenay Mayor Julie Dufour.

According to the plan presented, Chicoutimi will benefit from a budget of $2.9 million for the projects selected by the boroughs, Jonquière, $2.7 million and La Baie, $1.1 million. These amounts were calculated on a per capita basis.

The total planned over three years is $226.5M, with forecasts of $77.9M in 2024 and $80.3M.

With regard to economic development, Saguenay mainly wants to use this amount to plan industrial zones and purchase land so that it can be sold to businesses.

"This is a city that has lacked a lot of planning in the last 25 years. Now we're going to do some."

- A quote from Michel Potvin, chair of the Finance Commission

DRE flaws

The three-year plan was adopted unanimously. Democratic Renewal Team (DRT) Councillor Marc Bouchard explained his position with a few caveats.

I am in favour because it addresses the concerns of citizens in terms of roads and bike paths in particular. I would add a few caveats in terms of global warming and the environment, which should be a priority. Also, if we can do better for culture and community life, I will continue to observe that in the coming years," he said.

Despite their difference in allegiance, Mayor Dufour congratulated her opponent. You have very interesting ideas and your work is appreciated," she said.

An "acceptable" increase according to Michel Potvin

Meeting with the media after the meeting, the president of the Finance Commission, Michel Potvin, spoke about the budget that will be adopted on December 13. Saguenay will have $700,000 in new revenue. In Quebec City, he said, it's more like $25 million. This situation forces Saguenay to find new sources.

In terms of the order of expenses, it's the same, it snows the same in Saguenay as it does in Quebec City, the employees don't cost less. I'm talking about the hourly rate, these elements. So, we have elements that hurt us. You will see in the budget, there are elements that we have consolidated, including homelessness. We did solve some problems at a tax rate that I would say is acceptable," he said.

In Quebec City and Montreal, the budgets have already been tabled, with residential tax increases of 2.5% and 4.1% respectively.

Michel Potvin also explained that for curbs and sidewalks, the work will be doubled in 2023, because the employees hired for snow removal this year will continue to work for public works during the summer.

Source: ici.radio-canada.ca


Did you like this article? Share it ...

comments

Leave a comment

Your comment will be published after validation.