Saint John copes with $2.8M deficit left by winter cleanup

Saint John Mayor Mel Norton says the $2.8-million deficit caused by last winter's record snowfall is his number one priority for the next few months.

One storm crushed snowfall records, led to a state of emergency and is projected to put the municipality as much as $2.8 million in the red by the end of the year.

Legally that deficit can be carried forward two years, but Norton said he wants the city to tackle it as part of the 2016 budget.

"In terms of economic health, we don't want that kind of deficit to linger on into another council," said Norton.

"We don't want to leave the council of 2017 dealing with our snow-clearing budget from the winter of 2015."

The city airport recorded 434.8 centimetres of snow from December 2014 to March 2015.

Erasing that entire deficit next year would be a tall order. The municipality already heads into its 2016 budget preparations carrying a $790,000 deficit left over from 2014.

Added to that, Norton said, is uncertainty over provincial plans for annual unconditional grants to the municipalities.

It is also anticipated there will be little growth in the city's assessment base, meaning little added revenue from property taxes.

Councillors discuss remaining priorities

Councillors gathered at City Hall on Tuesday night to discuss priorities for the remaining eight months of their mandate.

Their options when it comes to new projects are severely restricted.

A $27-million fieldhouse and doubleice rink proposed for east Saint John will have to wait.

Even then,Coun. Shirley McAlary said she does not believe any newrecreational facilities should be built without the participation of neighbouring communities.

"For me, if there's any new facility constructed,it should be regional," said McAlary.

"For us to build a field house, put money in and the other municipalities not to put money in, that to me is very harmful to the city."

Whatever council's choice, Norton said cuts will likely be painful to city taxpayers.

"In order to achieve the kind of savings that we're looking at,all areas have to be looked at. We can't exclude an area from consideration or from change or from a reprioritization," he said.

Norton said he's thinking about running again for mayor in the upcoming municipal election in May.