Mayor Rob MacDougall and council are in the midst of budget deliberations for the 2014 fiscal year.
Mayor and council will be meeting regularly to discuss priorities for the upcoming year and identify areas where funds are needed or should be reduced.
So far, MacDougall said they think they will be focussing on public works, as some equipment is in need of upgrades.
They are also looking at planning for expected increases in BC Hydro rates and higher fuel costs.
The grant-in-aid budget is also expected to be reduced, but comments in last week’s meeting were that funding for the Fort St. James Community Foundation could help offset those reductions as the foundation will begin handing out grants to community organizations or projects this year.
The grant-in-aid budget is so far being proposed to be reduced to $27,000 from $37,000 in 2013, with $10,000 of this going directly to the foundation.
Nothing is finalized yet and these are just proposed changes being discussed.
The budget will need to be finalized by May 15 of this year.
