2020 Capital Budget Includes $24M in Projects

Today, St. John’s City Council voted to approve the capital budget for 2020. The plan includes approximately $24,549,379 for capital projects. Capital projects cover a wide range of services including transportation improvements, water and sanitary service upgrades, housing projects, capital grants to community groups, snow clearing equipment, and playground infrastructure.

“The identified projects for 2020 address the highest priority areas and ensure we are making every effort to protect the integrity of our infrastructure,” explained Councillor Dave Lane, Council Lead for Finance and Administration. “With previously committed items aside, a net of $10.6 million has been identified in available funding for 2020 projects.”

• Federal Gas Tax funding for Mews Centre replacement               $7,089,587
• Fleet replacement fund                                                                  $3,600,000
• Water maintenance projects                                                          $3,230,000
• General - uncommitted                                                                 $10,629,792

 
The full list of approved capital projects for 2020 is available online and includes:

• Grind and patch                                                                              $1,970,000  
• Snow removal/dumping and sidewalk snowblowers and plows     $2,306,000  
• Capital grants to community groups                                                  $800,000     
• Sidewalk/curb/gutter repair                                                                $650,000     
• Bike St. John's Master Plan - project                                                 $378,000     
• Downtown decorative lighting                                                            $292,000     

 
Parks Reserve funding for 2020 will include the city’s contribution to the Canadian Tire Jumpstart park at Mundy Pond ($300,000); Bowring Park Observation Decks ($45,000); a McNiven Place to Durness Street trail connection ($100,000); and Victoria Park Revitalization - Phase 3 ($150,000).

The City’s Capital out of Revenue program is determined annually and funded primarily from an allocation from the City’s annual operating budget, as well as other sources. This program is different from the City’s larger cost-shared capital arrangements with the Federal and Provincial Governments, for which the City borrows its share of the cost.