City of St. John's identifies $1.5M in potential savings

A City of St. John's internal review has found a way to cut $1.5-million from the city's budget in 2017.

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The finding is the result of the first round of a program review, which was announced in February following a difficult municipal budget. The city said in a statement that the first round looked at 23 areas, including city administration departments.

The potential savings include the elimination of about 5 full-time jobs in 2017, and a further 2 jobs in 2018.  

"Other identified and targeted savings include efficiencies in spending, reductions to contractual services and supplies, revenue generation and budgeting realignments," the city said in its press release. 

Coun. Jonathan Galgay, the head of the city's finance committee, said that no unionized positions will be affected until October 2016. 

"This (job-loss) number represents a combination of attrition, redundancy, reduced hours, and a decrease in the number of new hires previously budgeted.," he said.

"Staff whose positions are impacted by program review have been notified."