Other highlights:
The Peterborough Police Services Board 2023 operating budget request is four per cent or $1,127,453, higher than in 2022. The police capital requests for 2023 total $1,239,400 and are in addition to the four per cent request in the operating budget. A separate report has been written by the commissioner of community services detailing homelessness budget considerations. The report contains staff recommendations for consideration by the finance committee with different financial implications for the 2023 budget depending on city council’s direction.
The draft 2023 budget features a city contribution to Peterborough Public Health of $1,357,100, a one per cent increase over the 2022 contribution. However, the health unit has requested an amount of $1,644,880, an increase of 22.41 per cent. City treasurer Richard Freymond says it’s a “balancing act” between keeping housing rates down while also providing city services.“When we combine all of these services together and the priorities of council and trying to balance that with affordability and what can taxpayer pay — that was the balancing point,” he said “That was the range we felt was fair.”“We’re trying to grapple with that as well and that’s putting additional budget pressures in our document for 2023,” he said.