Halifax's proposed capital budget: what's in... and what's not

Halifax municipalstaff recommended Wednesday a proposed capital project budget for next fiscal year that totals $159 million $15 million more than this year.

Councillors scrutinized the proposal during a meeting. Increases include:

• $1 million more for streets and roads (total amount $26.5 million)
• $2.5 million for multi-district facilities
• $2.3 million for fire equipment replacement
• $1.7 million for the Mainland Common artificial turf
• A half million dollars for accessibility projects

But Halifax council argued more about what was left out of thebudget than what was in it. Councillors agreed last February tospend $2.3 million on an artificial turf in Cole Harbour.

The area councillor, LoreleiNicoll,madea motion to put the project back into the budget. Some of hercolleagues argued the move could impact other projects, but thevotewas 9-7 in favour.

"A number of local sports organizationsin Dartmouth are expecting this project to go ahead," Nicoll said.

Halifax staff will do further studyon three other projects that still do not have funding:

• Beazleyfield upgrades ($1.6 million)
• St. Mary's BoatClub investment ($1.5 million to $4 million)
• Angus L. MacDonald Bridge bike lane changes (slightly more than $1million)

A last minute attempt by Coun.David Hendsbee to increaseeach district capital fund from $94,000to $100,000was voted down.

The money is used by councillors to helppay for local capital projects. But Coun.Reg Rankin saidthehike would have amounted to a six per cent increase.

The proposed operating budgets of city departments willbe presented to council in January and February, with a final vote expected by the end of March.