Cape Breton Regional Municipality's 2016-2017 budget approved

Cape Breton Regional council has approvedits capital and operatingbudgets for the upcoming year that includeclose to $200 million in spending.

The bulk of the budget $146 million goes to operating costs, another $30 million for capital, and close to $4 million for the water utility.

Money will be spent on roads, building upgrades and a new fire station for Sydney, among other things.

Mayor Cecil Clarke says the budgetprovides financial stability, especially with a new council taking over after the fall municipal election.

"It's not an insignificant budget and Ihope it's going to createsome stimulus for the wider community," Clarke said. "It's not where we want tobe,but we're not in bad shape. We'llmove forward. We're stable."

The budget also includes money for design work on a planned new police station in Glace Bay.

Chief Peter MacIsaachopesthe newcouncil will approve construction next year.

Some items were deferred until June. Council wantsclarification from the federal government on waste-water management, and it willreview fundingapplications toits sustainability programfrom community groups.