Halifax CAO's office seeks 17% budget hike for itself

Halifax council is keen to keep spending in check next fiscal year to avoid raising taxes, but not every department is cutting back.

The office of the chief administrative officer is seeking a 17 per cent budget increase for 2016-17 over last year.

According to a draft budget to be presented to council Wednesday, the CAO's office is looking to end this year slightly under budget at $705,300. But the request for the coming year is for a budget of $826,500.

City solicitor John Traves is interim CAO after Richard Butts resigned as Halifax's top bureaucrat, effective Jan. 8, to take the job as president at Clayton Developments Ltd. 

Traves said the budget increase requested by his office is driven by three factors: a transfer of one employee from another office; the re-evaluation of the salary of another employee; and performance bonuses awarded to others.

By comparison, Mayor Mike Savage's office is requesting $812,500.  

And during debate on the draft document Wednesday, Savage said further savings had been found in his office, resulting in a change in plans: the mayor's office will be able to operate with the same amount of money it received this year.

The budget for the office that provides support to the city's 16 district councillors remains flat at roughly $2.6 million.

When it comes to staffing levels, most city hall offices will remain the same, with one notable exception: corporate communications will lose four people out of the current compliment of 26. That cut alone to marketing and design staff is expected to save the city $285,000.

There are other more modest savings. But according to the document, the $372,600 being saved overall will be offset by increases in other areas, such as salaries, building maintenance and consulting services.

CBC's Jean Laroche will be live blogging from council on Wednesday.