The number crunching has begun in Brockton.
Mayor Charlie Bagnato says they want to keep the budget increase at three percent, but it won’t be easy.
He says they’re facing a 365 thousand dollar increase in OPP policing costs and it’s difficult to find room for savings in other departments.
Council held its first budget meeting (CBO), Day Care, and Recreation Departments.
Bagnato says increases in Day Care and Recreation will likely be in the three percent range.
The mayor says even though policing costs are up, they do expect to see some money come back to the municipality from the OPP, which will improve the budget situation.
Bagnato says when the OPP sends local officers to temporarily serve in other parts of the province, the costs to Brockton are reduced and the money comes back to the municipality.
He says that money, along with some other minor moves could help to minimize any tax increase in this year’s budget.
The municipality is still waiting to find out how much money it will get back from the OPP from 2008.
The budget process for Brockton is far from over.
Bagnato says council will meet again on March 4th and 6th for another round of discussions.
He says they will go through the budgets for 12 different things on those two days.