By Ally Dunham

Dryden residents are invited to comment on a first draft of the city’s 2012 budget, due to be presented to Mayor and council at the Nov. 21 regular meeting.

This meeting is open to all city residents wishing to express comment on any portion of the 2012 draft municipal and waterworks budgets. The public can also provide input by email to budget2012@dryden.ca.

The first draft of the budget is showing a deficit in the operating budget of $3,069,279 and $241,610 for waterworks. The capital budget is showing another deficit in the amount of $2,313,079.

The city will be at a loss from the start this year in their operating budget, as they have given up their dividends of $1.25 million from DMTS for 2012 to allow the Retain and Grow Strategy to move forward.

The operating revenues for 2012 do not include any fee or service charge increases at this time, and there are no new provincial or federal operating grants proposed in the operating budget.

There is only to be one new position included at this time in the operating budget, which allows for an additional staff in the Provincial Offences Office to increase collection of unpaid fines, thereby increasing the revenue potential to the partners. Wages and benefit increases have been included in accordance to existing labour contracts.

Some of the projects included in the first draft of the 2012 Capital Budget include:

* Completion of the Norwill and Centennial Parks;

* Ongoing construction of the new sewage plant, set to be complete in late 2012;

* Reapproved purchase of a new zamboni;

* Replacement of three vehicles in the fleet, one for the police and two for the recreation department;

* Replacement of welcome signs on east, west and south side of city;

* Roadwork planned for Myrtle Ave. and design work for the King St. Underpass;

* Connecting Link roadwork on Duke St. from Colonization Ave. to 325 metres west;

* Conecting Link paving on Highway 17;

* Sanitary sewer replacement and rehabilitation;

* Roadwork in the cemetery;

* Phase 1 and 2 of arena renovations;

* Replacement of main heating, domestic hot water, pool #1 boiler;

* Waterfront Development Project Stage 1 at the end of Van Horne Ave.;

* Anti/De-icing equipment and Taxiway Charlie paving for the airport;

* Carpet replacement at the main air terminal building of the airport;

Waterworks has two capital projects listed in the budget, including Highway 594/Duke St. water main renewal from Colonization Ave. and the design and costing for resevoir expansion.

For more information on the draft 2012 budget, see their website at www.dryden.ca and plan to attend the open meeting at city hall on Nov. 21 starting at 7 p.m.