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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The final vote won't come until next week but city council appears destined to pass its first budget without a tax increase since 2004.

Budget basics Major cuts Automatic vehicle location devices $325,000 Electronic signs $120,000 Citizenship survey $34,000 - to be resumed in 2015 Reductions Solid waste beautification project reduced by $100,000 to $50,000 Social media capital project by $10,000 to $5,000 Traffic lights video equipment - cut in half to $37,500 Major increases Retained a supervisory constable with the municipal enforcement division $117,000 Retained a third building inspector $95,000 Contribution to day shelter to $50,000 from $25,000 Rotary Park trail development increases by $10,000 to $30,000 Other notes Land fund transfers to general fund increased by $75,000 $200,000 one-stop-shopping project remains in budget but not cleared by council yet. $25,000 Smart Boards remains but still needs council approval. Twin Pine Hill trail network $250,000 trail system held by a third party until permits are issued pursuant to land sale agreements. Source: City of Yellowknife

That comes after three nights of line-by-line readings of the 2013 budget this week where $368,000 has been chopped from $74.6 million in spending. Twenty-five per cent of the budget has been slated to deal with the city's infrastructure deficit on items such as water and sewer line replacements.

Full reductions amounted to $650,000, which included scrapping a $325,000 automatic vehicle location system to keep track of city vehicles with a Global Positioning System. Additional savings were also found by eliminating a $120,000 project to replace the city's three electronic signs at the Multiplex, fire hall, and Yellowknife Community Arena, and by cutting $100,000 from a $150,000 beautification project at the dump that includes landscaping, fencing around recycling areas, and additional signs.

"It sounds like the prognosis for the budget is zero per cent (in property tax increases)," said Coun. Adrian Bell, who pointed out that council began looking at the budget with a 1.99 per cent increase in taxes proposed. When asked if residents could possibly expect even tax reductions before next week's vote he was less optimistic.

"This year I would be surprised if that happened. There is the possibility of making small additions that are viably needed and rejected."

Coun. Linda Bussey said council seems to be achieving the goals it set out for achieving lower taxes, which makes her pleased.

"I was quite impressed. I think we set out to achieve something and I think we are going to achieve it, as far as tax," she said.

"We don't have the final numbers but it seems very good and I think we will be able to even place some money to reduce our infrastructure debt load."

Bussey said she was happy council could come together to identify savings, such as cutting the $75,000 traffic light detection equipment budget in half.

Some additions were made to the budget with councillors agreeing to retain a third building inspector position for $95,000, plus a supervisory constable position with the municipal enforcement division for $117,000. Council is also doubling its $25,000 annual contribution to the downtown day shelter, provided the GNWT agrees to maintain its funding.

Coun. Niels Konge, who owns a construction firm, thought the addition of one building inspector was money well spent.

"I think the reinstatement of a third building inspector, in my industry, will hopefully reduce some frustration that is out there. I think they were pretty much worked to the bone this summer."

As for the reinstatement of the supervisory constable, Konge said administration made a good case for it.

"I think we have bylaws and a municipal enforcement division for a reason and it has to be properly staffed or there is no use in doing it," he said.

The city was unable to provide Yellowknifer with tax projections or the final estimated amounts by press time but city staff is expected to present tax scenarios for final approval Monday.

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