According to Mount Pearl Mayor Dave Aker, budget 2020 is about being as “practical as possible, while at the same time being as progressive as possible.”

Last night the city approved a $53-million budget, with no tax increases for residents and businesses.

Aker says maintaining the 2019 rates for 2020 was pertinent given the difficult financial times facing many in the province.

They recognize that residents and business can’t afford to give any more, so they sharpened their pencils and made sure they are only working on their priorities and maintaining the same quality of service.

Part of the budget is dedicating over $170,000 to climate change initiatives.

According to Aker, that money will be used to implement outcomes from the Climate Change Action Plan Review from earlier this year. Some changes include switching out the fuel used at the city depot from oil to electric, as well as replacing one of their city-owned vehicles with an electric vehicle.

Budget 2020 in @MountPearl strikes the balance between practicality and progress. $170,000 in Climate Change, $3.8 million in fleet renewal, and $400,000 to economic development, with NO increases to taxpayers. Full details are available at: https://t.co/B0DEpM7pCn pic.twitter.com/wDdNZJDBdw

— City of Mount Pearl (@Mount_Pearl) December 17, 2019