Sudbury ends 2022 fiscal year $300K in the red
A recent report to city council in Greater Sudbury said an array of fiscal challenges left the city with a $300,000 deficit for the fiscal year ending June 30.
Some city departments reported massive budget overruns, while others spent far less than forecast. Most of the variances were related to continuing upheaval related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The biggest single deficit was $1.3 million in the roads department, formally known as 'linear infrastructure maintenance.
"This is largely due to a variety of extreme weather conditions causing an increased need for plowing and an increase in road deterioration requiring increased pothole patching activities," said a staff report on the shortfall.
Such gaps are made up by under-expenditures in other areas, such as $1.8 million revenue in the landfill/recycling budget, realized largely because of a rebound in recycling market brought in $1.1 million more than expected.
The most common variance is related to revenue not bouncing back as quickly as expected after the pandemic. For example, parking and bylaw services were short $290,000 because parking fine revenue was lower because fewer cars than expected parked downtown.
Delays in reopening facilities led to a $1.3 million shortfall in the leisure services, offset by an under-expenditure of $550,000 in things like fuel and staffing costs.
Some departments, however, had major deficits not related to the pandemic. Fire services, which frequently reports cost overruns due to overtime costs, came up $670,000 in the red, with overtime accounting for $570,000 of the total.
Elsewhere, 84 water main breaks in the city in the first six months of the year helped the water/wastewater department run a $320,000 shortfall.
"This compares to an average of 47 over the same period during the previous three years," said a staff report on the shortfall.
More recently, rising energy costs are presenting a challenge, the report said.
"Fuel prices in Canada began to increase in December 2021 with price increases exacerbated after Russia launched a military invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24," the report said.
"It is estimated that rising fuel prices could lead to a corporate-wide over-expenditure of $1.5 million based on trending rates for city fleet and natural gas used in facilities. Estimates for 2022 fuel expenditures are included within the operating department projections."
The operating deficit will be paid by using reserve funds. Read the full report here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.