The capital city is releasing its budget for the upcoming fiscal year today.

City council had a large mountain to climb in preparing this year’s budget, amongst what has become a vastly different economic climate between the historic snowstorm that shut down the city in January, and the pandemic that took hold of the world about two months later.

Last year, the city did not increase taxes and tabled a $305-million budget. Provincial legislation requires that all municipalities balance their budgets.

This year, this city is facing a significant shortfall of between $10-million and $12-million. A round of layoffs was recently made at City Hall and St. John’s Sports and Entertainment. Reductions to Metrobus and reductions in the number of firefighters on shift were also announced in recent weeks.

Council’s lead on finance, Dave Lane does not anticipate any tax increases—however, there will be some fee increases.

He explains that in addition to those cuts and increases, the city was able to make up the remaining deficit through surpluses accrued through past budgets.

The city will announce the budget for 2021 in council chambers this afternoon.