‘Fleet management’ a possible savings measure for town

Continuing their discussion on the 2004 budget, councillors heard a list of cuts to capital projects from division managers during a special committee of the whole meeting Friday at the Civic Centre.
And foremost among the costsaving measures brought forth was a “fleet management” system, whereby the town could decrease the number of new vehicles it would have to purchase for its various departments this year by better organizing usage of those it currently possesses.
“There’s obviously some vehicles that do need to be replaced, but there are other vehicles around that aren’t being used all the time,” Mayor Dan Onichuk noted this morning.
He stressed this—along with other capital cuts—only are in the proposal stage at this time, and could change when other budget information, including input from the public, comes forth.
While the town initially was looking at upwards of $3 million in capital spending in 2004, proposed cuts bring that number down to between $800,000 and $1 million, the mayor said.
This figure brings the budget shortfall back up to at least $2.8 million.
This deficit previously was reported as being knocked down from $2.7 million to just $2 million on Friday, Feb. 13 after the division managers unveiled reports noting a total of $724,564 in reductions—such as the increased GST rebate, confirmed tax revenues stemming from additional assessments (but not levy increases), cuts to staff travel and training, and cancelled transfers to reserves.
The initially-projected $2.7 million shortfall apparently did not include any capital expenditures.
None of the budget trimming so far has included eliminating jobs, closing facilities, or creating new user fees.
Budget discussions will continue at the regular executive committee meetings as well as special committee of the whole meetings scheduled for 4 p.m. on Monday, March 1, then at 4 p.m. before the regular March 8 meeting.
While council previously considered holding a special meeting before today’s council meeting, it since has been deemed unnecessary.