Cape Breton Regional Municipality's 2016-2017 budget approved
$146M to be spent on operating costs, including salaries
Cape Breton Regional council has approved its capital and operating budgets for the upcoming year that include close to $200 million in spending.
The bulk of the budget — $146 million — goes to operating costs, another $30 million for capital, and close to $4 million for the water utility.
Money will be spent on roads, building upgrades and a new fire station for Sydney, among other things.
Mayor Cecil Clarke says the budget provides financial stability, especially with a new council taking over after the fall municipal election.
"It's not an insignificant budget and I hope it's going to create some stimulus for the wider community," Clarke said. "It's not where we want to be, but we're not in bad shape. We'll move forward. We're stable."
The budget also includes money for design work on a planned new police station in Glace Bay.
Chief Peter MacIsaac hopes the new council will approve construction next year.
Some items were deferred until June. Council wants clarification from the federal government on waste-water management, and it will review funding applications to its sustainability program from community groups.