Town passes $10.3 million capital budget plan
By Chris Simon

Nearly $10.3 million in capital projects were approved by town council last week.

Innisfil council passed its 2008 capital budget, which will allocate funding for various construction, parks and recreation, water, planning, and town vehicle purchases next year.

"The challenge to present a capital budget that kept up with aging infrastructures, met the requests of the public, maintained strategic priorities and provided for service area priorities was a daunting one," said town treasurer Ian Goodfellow.

"However, the final budget is one that demonstrates fiscal responsibility while balancing (several) challenges."

Among the projects planned, the Police Services Board will receive $2.4 million for a new and expanded police station, the proposed Cookstown library and community centre will get nearly $1.5 million, and Innisfil Beach Park will get $300,000 for a walkway. The Stroud Arena will receive $159,000 for a dehumidifier.

About $200,000 will also be spent on waterfront washrooms at Innisfil Beach.

Several other areas will also receive funding. Throughout the town, over $54,000 would pay for new computers, printers and phones, nearly $51,000 would be used for the installation of a new data system and security network, and about $50,000 would be spent on a customer service survey.

About $200,000 would be allocated towards the purchase of land in Lefroy for the Innisfil Public Library.

Over $28,000 would also be spent on a new portable water pump, while nearly $24,000 would be used to purchase a breathing apparatus, both for emergency services.

Along with the 2008 capital budget, council also received a list of projects and financial plans for the following four years.

While the list will be used as a guideline for capital projects during the next few years, it currently calls for millions of dollars to be spent on the construction of a GO Transit station, a wastewater treatment plant expansion, a fire hall in Alcona and work for the Innisfil Heights and Big Bay Point areas, among other items.

"The draft information will form the basis of (the capital budget next) year," said Goodfellow.

Most of this year's funding is paid for by casino revenues, development charges, long-term debt financing, gasoline taxes and reserves.