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Wednesday, May 24, 2017 • Vol.121 No.44 • Neepawa, Manitoba
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Lagoon and fire hall big ticket items in budget Neepawa Town Council - Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Looking Back - Page 2 1977-Fatal car crash
Sports - Page 5
NACI runs for women
PHOTO BY EOIN DEVEREUX
Improvements to the lagoon are among the capital expenditures that are being pursued in the Town of Neepawa’s new budget. Another item of note is the new fire hall. Expanded details are on page 6. By Eoin Devereux The Neepawa Press
News - Page 8 Plant sale
Neepawa’s new budget for the upcoming year has received final approval. Town council unanimously passed the financial document after second and third reading on Tuesday, May 16. The general operating fund for the year is over $8.3 million. Last year’s operating budget was a little over $7.6 million, though the Town only needed to spend around $6.5 million of that during the fiscal year. The largest year-over-year increase is
seen in the utility operating fund, which is budgeted at $12.7 million. The 2016 utility budget was around $5.04 million, but only a little under $3.7 million was spent. The majority of the additional money needed for this year’s utility fund is going towards a required lagoon pilot program and upgrade ($10.26 million). Almost all that will be covered through the Town’s reserve fund, which has been accumulating for several years. A pilot program examining the requirements of the proposal are still being finalized, so the final design and therefore, the final
cost, is not yet known. Mayor Adrian de Groot said the primary reason for the investment into the lagoon is to ensure the Town is within required regulatory compliance. De Groot noted that they don’t expect the upgrades to cost as much as they’ve set aside; they’re simply ensuring the money is available just in case. He concluded that the Town’s administration is actively looking into possible partner funding to cover a portion of those costs and that they’re confident offsetting revenues will be acquired. Continued on page six
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