Even as the Nelson Police Dept amend their budget request for two new officers there would still need to be a tax increase to cover it.
That’s the word from Chief Financial Officer Colin McClure with a budget picture that sees funding challenges out-stripping new revenue.
The police had asked for over $300,000 for more resources but have now suggested staggering a new recruit with a new established constable to keep this year’s costs down to a third of that … however….
McClure says even the reduced ask would require a tax increase.
Other budget pressures include hundreds of thousands of dollars to meet city staff inflationary wage increases, an under-funded building maintenance kitty and a call for a third full-time bylaw officer.
New revenue for 2015 includes about $200,000 in net funds from a recent regional recreation refund and the MMBC provincial recycling deal. But that totals about half of the total cost pressures facing the city.
