Saint John holds special council meeting to solve money woes
'We cannot afford that as a community,' says mayor
Saint John Common Council had a special meeting Saturday to go over some of the more expensive points of its upcoming budget.
Transit, fire, and police services are all under review as the city tries to tackle the issue of paying for services with money it doesn't have.
"This council will not raise the tax rate," said Mayor Mel Norton.
Norton asked fire Chief Kevin Clifford to remind his union representatives the city doesn't have the money for salary increases.
It's just one of several details common council is going over.
"If they choose to pursue three and four per cent arbitration resolutions or court decisions, they are pricing themselves and their colleagues out of work. We cannot afford that as a community," said Norton.
Saint John's tax base is expected to increase by only 0.5 per cent. Combined with declines in other city revenues, it means the city has some tough choices.
At the meeting the transit commissioner detailed how covering existing cost overflows — with an 18 per cent cut to services — would require cancelling routes and reducing services.
"So at the end of the day, have you underfunded it, or are you over your budget? I say that it's underfunded," said Coun. Donna Reardon.
The city manager says it will take time to go over the numbers, meaning a new budget may not be ready when council reconvenes on Monday.