City closer to approving $216M budget for infrastructure in 2027
Capital plan would be more than double last year’s
Contractors operate machines to drill and excavate a road in Iqaluit as part of water and sewer infrastructure upgrades in spring. Water infrastructure makes up more than half of the city’s proposed $216-million capital plan for 2027. (File photo by Arty Sarkisian)
Water infrastructure and related upgrades make up more than half of the City of Iqaluit’s proposed $216-million capital budget for 2027.
Wastewater system upgrades soak up more than $80 million of the budget. Water infrastructure accounts for another $75 million, which includes $38 million for raw water intake, supply and storage.
Peter Tumilty, the city’s chief financial officer, introduced the proposed budget to councillors during Tuesday’s governance and priorities committee meeting. He began his presentation with an explanation as to why this year’s proposed budget is more than double last year’s $90-million capital plan.
“We have elected this year to show the entire cost of the project in the current year rather than spreading it out over the life of the project based on expected annual spending,” Tumilty said.
In the past, the city has spread project costs over multiple years to minimize the impact on the city’s finances, he said. This year, projects that are fully or substantially funded by third parties, such as the federal government, are fully costed into the budget.
For example, the city is planning to spend $60 million on wastewater system upgrades next year with money from the federal Building Canada Strong Fund.
This improves the city’s ability to plan multi-year projects and to optimize sealift scheduling, Tumilty said.
Other projects include $16 million toward drainage and roadway improvements and $12 million for city facility improvements, including the fire hall, shooting range relocation, and increasing equipment garage storage capacity.
The budget proposes $4.5 million for vehicle and equipment purchases, with a $750,000 grader being among the most costly.
Three playground replacements and outfield turf for the city’s softball diamond will share $750,000 in funding. Absent are arena upgrades and a long sought after community hall.
“It’s very much a practical budget, fixing the foundations and the infrastructure deficit that we have,” said deputy Mayor Kim Smith in a phone interview on Wednesday.
Councillors have not forsaken new recreational infrastructure and upgrades, she added.
“Once we get our feet back under us as far as critical infrastructure goes, we’ll be able to offer our residents a bit more of a fun budget where we can focus a bit more on recreation,” she said.
The improvements to water and wastewater systems will open up opportunities for much-needed housing in the community, she added.
Following Tumilty’s presentation, committee members unanimously moved to present the plan to city council.
Not sure if my optics are right, certainly seems like much infrastructure to support residential needs, there should be serious consideration for the need of commercial development including stand alone commercial lots to help establish businesses to meet the needs of a growing population
I think that it would be way more beneficial for residents if the city moved from a lottery system to a point-based system for lot allocation, and having proper forms that you can fill out that actually work and are up to date not 2022 like the current one is. Also having residential lots available would be nice for those that are hoping to build a home. sad to see a lot of the Joamie court lots are Airbnb run by non-Inuit.
Hopefully this will not mean property taxes increase and services increase for homeowners, since owning a home for more than 15 years I’ve seen such drastic increases over the years to help pay for the city’s budget while our services are cut.