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Monday, January 7, 2013

City Budget Cuts Fire Service But Boosts Saint John Transit

The proposed 2013 city budget comes up tonight at Common Council for approval. 

It includes a 560 thousand dollar cut in funding from what was requested by the fire department. How that will affect staffing will be up to Fire Chief Kevin Clifford.

Saint John Transit will be getting more money to make improvements in morning and evening bus service as well as the route to the university and Regional Hospital. 

Now that millions of dollars have been freed up with reduced payments to the pension plan, Mayor Mel Norton tells CHSJ News more funding is available for roads, recreation and economic development.

195 thousand additional dollars will be spent to double the enforcement programme in getting rid of dangerous buildings in the city. Common Council is also being advised by city staff to examine curbside recycling instead of bringing back spring cleanup at an annual cost of 380 thousand dollars.

The city expects to get from 350 to 400 thousand dollars less in funding from the province in 2014 and 2015.