Exterior of Dryden city fall, March 2023. Acadia News photo

Dryden City council has narrowly approved the 2024 budget.

It contains a 6.4 percent increase in property taxes.

Mayor Jack Harrison actually voted against the budget, but says it does contain a lot of capital works in 2024.

“We have a very large, I think, capital program with our phase 2 and phase 3 of our recreational center mechanical retrofit,” Harrison told council after the budget was passed.

“It’s an over $2.2 million dollars and almost $360,00 in regular maintenance.  In addition, a new Zamboni is in the works.”

Prior to the budget being passed, Harrison said there is a $290,000 difference between the 6.4 percent increase that was approved and a 4.5 percent increase which was turned down last month.

Steven Lansdell-Roll is the city’s treasurer and says the revised budget does contain a couple of extra projects that are dependent on provincial funding.

“The additional project of the NOHFC (Northern Ontario Heritage Fund) application-based golf course project and a holding-place for the Memorial Drive road project, if those funds are available.”

The budget vote passed by a 4-3 margin.