Capital Plan for 2017 Outlined

On Monday, April 17, St. John’s City Council will vote to approve the Capital Plan for 2016- 2018. The plan includes $28.7 million in capital projects for 2017.

“Projects identified in the Capital Plan range from small to larger-scale,” explained Councillor Jonathan Galgay, Chair of the Finance and Administration Standing Committee. “It includes studies, facility renovations and upgrades, roadwork, park construction and improvements, and water and sewer projects. Implementation of automated garbage collection and the start of a new facility to replace the H.G.R. Mews Community Centre are also included.”

The design for the replacement for the Mews Centre will be tendered in 2017, with construction to begin in 2018. The current Mews Centre will remain open for the majority of the construction project.

The Capital Plan commitment of $28.7 million for 2017 includes:

• $4.4 million in Gas Tax funding, which has been dedicated to the replacement of the H.G.R. Mews Community Centre.
• $3.6 million from the Fleet Acquisition Fund for replacement of the City’s fleet.
• $3.2 million for projects are funded through the water tax and focus exclusively on work related to the water system.
• $5.2 million for finished projects not funded or where funding allocated was insufficient. The majority of this amount - $4.23 million - is required for jobs that Council directed be undertaken due to urgency.
• $821,000 for project overages on jobs not yet completed
• $3.7 million for projects that will be paid for from current monies instead of being borrowed 

In an effort to be more cost effective the city is reviewing opportunities to fund its projects without borrowing. 

“Not borrowing results in the City saving $380K in annual debt charges,” said Councillor Galgay.

In addition, $4.4 million has been identified in available funding for 2017. This amount represents amounts for where the total cost to complete was less than the total funding required  or jobs which have not yet started and Council are choosing to redirect these monies based on evolving priorities.

Full listing of all projects are outlined in the City Council Agenda for Monday April 17, 2017, see memo titled ‘2017 Capital Out of Revenue’, page 44.
 
Media Contact:
Kelly Maguire
Media Relations
City of St. John's
709-576-8491
kmaguire@stjohns.ca