City administration projects a $250,000 dollar deficit in cemetery revenues. In a report to the city’s finance committee, the city says most of the deficit is because of revenues being lower than anticipated from fewer burials and continued cremation preferences. The price of a cremation in Canada can be anywhere from $600 dollars to $4,500 dollars compared to a burial which can be upwards of 5 thousand dollars.
The overall Community Support Business Line is forecast to have a $710 thousand deficit this year, mostly due to the deficit in cemeteries and a $400 thousand deficit in Community Investments and Support. That is related to the timing of previously approved economic incentives and tax abatements coming into effect, and higher than budgeted use of the Accessibility Leisure Centre Program.
The city’s overall projected budget shortfall is $1.1 million dollars.
(gw/dg sept9/18)