Mayor Diodati points to a tough balancing act for city staff and council
The upcoming city budget season is being called a perfect storm by Niagara Falls' mayor.
Jim Diodati tells us council delayed paying for projects during the pandemic to help taxpayers, but, the bills are coming due, and that's along with record inflation nearing 8-percent.
"We've got some new major facilities coming on, where we'll have to pay for. That's be the new arts and culture centre/market... the YMCA moved out of the MacBain Centre, so we had to take over the operations of that building," he says.
The mayor adds this will probably be one of the most challenging years for council and city staff in managing the budget.
But, he also points out the provincial government wants an asset management plan. "Anything you build, you have to start saving for it immediately, for replacing it in 20 years, or 30 years, whatever the life of that asset, whether it's a road, bridge or building. So, it's just all coming at one time."
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