Nearly 100 projects potentially left out of Edmonton's capital budget

Debate and disagreement will be inevitable at city hall next week as council considers its capital budget for the next four years.

The proposed $4.3-billion capital budget released Thursday shows the city plans to spend almost half about 45 per cent of it on neighbourhood renewal.

The remainderis dedicated to new infrastructure.

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Some of the big projects being funded between2019 and 2022 include the conversion of Yellowhead Trail into a freeway, the Valley Line Southeast LRT, the development oftheBlatchfordneighbourhood and upgrading Fort Edmonton Park.

But there's a long list nearly 100other projects that have been requested but the finance department is recommending the city doesn't fund.

The projects include recreation, transit, roads, parks and sports fields.

• Commonwealth Stadium upgrading to meet FIFA requirements
• Clarke Stadium Enhancements
• Rollie Miles Leisure Centre
• Northwest Seniors Centre
• Churchill LRTStation upgrade
• WindermereNorth (Ambleside) Transit Centre and Park and Ride
• 50th Street widening (Sherwood Park Freeway - 76 Avenue)

Mayor Don Ivesonhas said it will be a tight budget.

"The toughest choices we're going to have are on our growth projects, How much and how fast can we attack the challenge of the Terwillegar?" he said Thursday at a media availability. "Do we have capacity for some of the other infrastructure projects that are needed because of growth?"

Nine projects could go forwardbut only if the city borrows and incurs debt, the report says. They include the much-anticipatedLewis Farms Recreation Centre and Library, upgrades to theLRTStadium Stationand theTerwillegarDrive Expressway.

The budget report describes the Yellowhead Trail as a project of "national significance" as it's partof the Trans-Canada Highway.

The city budgeted $281 million toward the estimated $1 billion project.

This capital budget also dedicates $814 million to the Valley LineSoutheast on top of apreviously-funded $1.8 billion.

The Valley Line West and Metro Line extensions are also getting a design budgetof $56 million.

The city's capital budgetallots $115 million toward developing the former city centre airport into whatwill be the Blatchford neighbourhood.

Ivesontook direct aim at the province's withdrawal from a grant program called Municipal Sustainability Initiative,which citiesand towns use for long-term planning of capital projects.

The province is reducingMSIgrants by $61 million per year over the next three yearsand ending the program altogetherat the end of 2021.

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The province intends to replacethe MSIwitha grant program based on revenue-sharing with municipalities.

Ivesonhas been asking the province for more details since the announcement was made in March.

"I'm frustrated again this week with where we're at," Iveson said. "The City of Edmonton operates in an environment of ever-present financial uncertainty around the security and stability of provincial and federal capital grants."

The budget will be presented to city council on Tuesday.