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Two capital projects could be delayed due to scheduling problems, says report

The municipality's first quarter financial results were presented during the recent city council meeting.

The majority of municipal capital projects are projected to be completed on time, according to a city administration report, but two projects have been singled out as being potentially at risk.  

Structure upgrades to First Avenue southeast and phase 2 of the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant transmission line project have been singled out as being at risk to not meet the scheduled completion dates, the report says. 

The First Avenue southeast project has a budget of $1.3 million; $10,368 has been spent so far. The report notes the project is pending since another $150,000 is required.

The report — presented during the recent regular city council meeting as part of the first quarter financial summary — does not list a completion date for this project.

The transmission line project has a budget of more than $6.8 million; $427,531 has been spent so far. The report says the pumps and electrical systems, including tie-ins on the reservoirs, will be issued for tender during the second quarter of this year. 

The project is expected to be completed by March 31, 2021. 

The capital projects budget for this year is $59,700,738; so far, $1,348,879 has been spent. 

Revenue and expenditure summary
Revenues during the first quarter of this year were more than $3.3 million, while expenditures were more than $10.2 million.

Total projected revenue for this entire year is more than $48.5 million, while expenses are pegged at more than $48.5 million. 

Fines and penalties
Revenue is up this past quarter compared to the same point in 2018 — $446,578 versus $232,141 — due to increased funds being received from automatic speed enforcement cameras.  

Based on the number of motorists caught speeding through areas with speed enforcement cameras, city administration expects to receive $1.675 million in revenue this year from this area. 

The actual amount received last year from speed enforcement cameras was more than $2.28 million. 

Recreation services revenue
The revenues in this area have increased $251,956 over the first quarter of last year due to the Yara Centre being included in the municipality’s operations for the first time. 

This building now shows as part of the municipal revenues of $272,937 and expenses of $143,659. Many of the first quarter revenues relate to the full year, such as sponsorships and memberships. 

General government expenses
This expenses in this area — which includes city hall departments — have increased by about $250,000 as compared to 2018 in several departments, the report says, but 22 per cent of overall expenditures have been spent after the first quarter, which is within expectations. 

Public works
There has been an increase in spending in the city engineering department, streets and roads, and workshop areas, by about $290,000. Overall expenses are at 23 per cent of budget. 

Parks and recreation
This area’s expenses are down by about $215,000, as no subsidy payment has been made to the Downtown Facility and Field House Inc. for this year. 

The next city council meeting is Monday, May 27. 

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