Major capital projects highlight the Regional District of Nanaimo’s 2017-21 financial plan.
Regional district directors gave three readings to the five-year plan Tuesday night, with $50.1 million in taxes and $90.2 million in operating expenses in 2017.
Secondary wastewater treatment upgrades at the Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre are among capital projects taking place in 2017. Initial work will consist of site clearing and start of construction. Roughly $45 million has been allocated for this, according to Wendy Idema, regional district director of finance.
At the regional landfill in Cedar, $2.5 million has been budgeted for items including the scale house, where waste is weighed, and capital works associated with ongoing operation of the landfill.
The regional district’s transit service will spend about $3 million for upgrades in the shop at Hammond Bay Road.
The regional district has also budgeted $68,000 for a purchasing manager to oversee capital expenditures in 2017.
Final reading for the 2017-21 financial plan is expected on March 28, said Idema.