The 2020 budget for Hastings Highlands jumps up nearly $4,000,000 from what was approved for 2019.
The budget was approved by council yesterday at $6,198,058, which is a jump from 2019’s approved capital budget of $1,500,000. Treasurer David Stewart calls the approved budget “taking care of business.”
The revitalization of downtown Maynooth and the work that will be done on Highway 62 are the major projects happening next year. Those two projects account for $3,178,955 of the budget.
The next most expensive project for 2020 is the modernization of fire station four in Maynooth. That will cost the municipality $500,000. $10,000 will also be going towards the installation of five dry fire hydrants at still to be determined locations. The municipality will also look to get new protective equipment for volunteer firefighters. $200,000 is also in the budget to buy fire vacuum suction tankers for stations 1, 3 and 4.
Stewart explains the $1,750,000 cost of the revitalization of downtown Maynooth will be 100-percent funded by the municipality, while $1,805,262 is being pitched in by the province to help with the work on Highway 62 thanks to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
“Its been a priority on council’s asset management plan for years,” Stewart says of the work. “Now we’re in a position where we have our plan and we’re taking care of business.”