City of St. John's identifies $1.5M in potential savings

A City of St. John's internalreview has found a way to cut $1.5-million from the city'sbudget in 2017.

• St. John's council looks to increase bargaining power with salary review
• All city programs, services under microscope in St. John's spending review

The finding isthe result of the first round of aprogram review, which was announced in February following a difficult municipal budget. The city said in a statement that the first round looked at 23 areas, including city administration departments.

The potential savings include the elimination of about 5 full-time jobsin 2017, and a further 2 jobs in 2018.

"Other identified and targeted savings include efficiencies in spending, reductions to contractual services and supplies, revenue generation and budgeting realignments," the city said in its press release.

Coun.JonathanGalgay, the head of the city's finance committee, saidthat nounionizedpositions will be affected until October2016.

"This (job-loss)number represents a combination of attrition, redundancy, reduced hours, and a decrease in the number of new hires previously budgeted.," he said.

"Staff whose positions are impacted by program review have been notified."