Budget number crunch continues

Budget chief Sheldon Forgette says the 2018 operating budget isn’t set yet, and right now they’re looking at a 1.3 per cent increase.

He says they were at 0.8 per cent, but that’s changed.

“Last week we were missing numbers from the police service, the Capitol Centre and the DSSAB (District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board) and this week we’re factoring in those numbers,” he says.

There’s an eight per cent increase from North Bay Police, a ten per cent hike from the Capitol Centre and under two per cent from DSSAB, and that’s pushed the number to 1.3 per cent.

But, Forgette says there are still adjustments to be made as that information has been sent back to those ABC’s for further review.

He says they had planned to pass the operating budget next week and was asked it the fiscal plan will still be approved before the end of the year.

“I think it’s definitely doable as there’s not that many items to get through so I think it’ll definitely get passed in 2017 or early 2018. The effort is to get it passed in 2017,” he says.