Mayor Don Darling says the theme for 2020 will be all about "restructuring." (Danielle McCreadie)
Saint John council voted to explore another round of service cuts Monday night.
On the chopping block was the growth reserve fund and a number of development grants.
The city is also looking at an increase in both their permit and development fees, and an increase to parking fees.
On-street parking could rise by 25 cents, while things like monthly parking for residents could also see a jump. Monthly parking for non-residents could double in cost.
This new round of sustainability initiatives could save the city just over $750,000 and generate over $1 million of new revenue.
An increase to parking fees alone could generate over $970,000 of new revenue.
The city is also looking at cutting its internal workforce by 50 per cent in order to help balance its future budgets. There will also be a salary freeze for all municipal employees.
Mayor Don Darling says these decisions aren’t easy.
“50 per cent of the deficit (will be) addressed through our people costs, and those are difficult decisions. We’re in a difficult spot in terms of our financial sustainability. The city manager will now take on that task to work through this as compassionately as possible,” he said.
The city says say next year, around 57 per cent of the city’s total budget will be spent on “people costs,” including pay, benefits and pensions.
Darling says it only makes sense for there to be an equal reduction in those costs.
“I don’t want to speculate tonight on how many positions that might be because I don’t want to cause more panic than I need to. You know, its certainly a significant amount of money that will come from our workforce and we don’t take that lightly,” he said.
The city says the workforce cuts initiative would save $2.5 million in 2021 and $5 million in 2022.
Departments that will feel the cuts the most are public works and parks and recreation.
