Queens councillors to debate $50-million capital plan

Region of Queens Municipality administration building. (Rick Conrad photo)

Region of Queens councillors will discuss the municipality’s five-year, $50-million capital budget on Friday afternoon.

The region is getting an earlier start on its budget talks this year. The plan is to approve the capital spending estimates by January so that tenders can be issued earlier in the year to get work started more quickly.

While some projects are under budget, like renovations for the library space at the Liverpool Business Development Centre and the upgrades at Beach Meadows Beach, others are running over.

For example, staff are reporting funding shortfalls with the $8-million South Queens Outdoor Pool. Overall cost overruns are estimated at about $150,000, with just over $4 million in costs to date.

The expansion of water and wastewater services to the Mount Pleasant area is running a little behind schedule and over original budget estimates.

The project, which was initially projected to cost about $22 million, is now expected to cost $26 million.

Councillors will discuss the capital budget in a special council meeting on Friday at 3 p.m. at council chambers on White Point Road.