Mayor Laura Cabott delivered her annual capital budget address at Monday’s council meeting.

Cabott said this budget proposes investments of more than $58 million in 2023, subject to partner funding from the Yukon and federal governments.

The bylaw required to approve the proposed budget received the first of three readings Monday.

“Residents and taxpayers expect the most responsible use of city funds, and we as council have a responsibility to balance those expectations with our community’s ambition and potential,” said Cabott.

“This capital budget does exactly that.

“The budget I present to you tonight is one that continues on the path towards our goal of meeting the demands of a growing community, while making sensible and sustainable decisions.”

The budget, for instance, speaks to the need for $4 million for new equipment to support snow-clearing operations, given the significant increase in snowfall the city has seen in the last two winters.

It speaks to implementing the 2020 Trail Plan, which includes upgrading, decommissioning and building trails as well as maintaining the city’s 240 kilometres of existing trails.

She said the budget includes continuing work on the city’s Transportation Master Plan.

“We have revised the budget this year to include a number of new opportunities that could improve connectivity throughout our transportation network,” the mayor said.

“This work includes exploring a second river crossing in the city and further study of how we can improve traffic flow on Quartz Road and Mountainview Drive for traffic in and out of Porter Creek and Whistle Bend.”

The mayor said one project council is excited about is the incorporation of Southern Tutchone place names into city-owned buildings, with $58,000 earmarked for the project.

“Next year, we will develop a policy with guidance from local First Nations to ensure we are creating a policy that is reflective of the true partnership we share,” said Cabott.

“This council is focused on meaningful acts of reconciliation, and this is one of the many ways we can ensure our community’s diversity and history are meaningfully incorporated.”

In addition to improving the trail network, the city is also budgeting money to maintain and replace playground equipment in the 49 playgrounds across Whitehorse.

The budget speaks to everything from $250,000 to maintain the city’s storm collection system to the need to purchase critical spare parts for the water and sewer system to ensure the city can keep things running and limit service disruptions.

The city is proposing to contract out maintenance of its 1,100 fire hydrants, the mayor pointed out.

Cabott said starting this year, the city will be spending $500,000 in the maintenance of the aquatic centre, including new acoustic work, ventilation upgrades and work on the deck and change rooms.

The budget identifies more than $6.3 million starting in 2024 to expand the city’s new Operations Building on Range Road, she said.

Space is required for many city employees and pieces of equipment that did not relocate from the decommissioned Municipal Services Building on Fourth Avenue.

The proposed budget sets out $15.6 million in priority expenditures for 2023 and another $42.5 million in expenditures requiring approval from third parties, for a total of $58.1 million.

The budget also sets out proposed annual expenditures not just for 2023 but out to 2026.

Priority expenditures over the next four years are estimated at $55.1 million while expenditures requiring third-party approval are estimated to total $130 million.

For example, the four-year capital plan does not identify any funding next year for the expansion of the Operations Building but does set out $900,000 in 2024 and $5.4 million in 2025.

Similarly, there is no money identified next year or in 2024 for a new fire hall in Whistle Bend, but there is $500,000 budgeted for in 2025 and another $5.3 million in 2026.

The mayor said the city is not unfortunately immune to the market conditions affecting the rest of the country.

“Our plans and projects have already been heavily impacted by the rising costs of materials, and significant labour shortages across many sectors of the economy,” said Cabott.

“This past year has been especially challenging due to capacity constraints and staff shortages.

“Our emergency response to the landslides, and urgent repairs to infrastructure saw our resources stretched thin and projects deferred.”

Cabott said in many cases, projects that went to tender did not receive a response.

The city, she said, needs to consider those factors in how it plans a number of important projects in the coming years.

Cabott said modern jurisdictions know they need to invest in public transit that is affordable and accessible to all.

“This means making meaningful changes that improve access and comfort for all users,” she said.

“This budget outlines plans to build modern and accessible bus shelters with seating.

“We are planning a transit fare study to see if we can adjust costs to boost ridership, and looking to purchase an additional Handy Bus.”

The mayor said the proposed budget advances key projects that continue to make Whitehorse a great place to live, work and raise a family.

It makes significant investments in the city’s aging infrastructure and addresses the desire to improve city services.

“Many of these investments are not flashy but these are key areas of responsibility for the city, and it is council’s job to ensure we are delivering on our core business,” Cabott said.

“As we look beyond 2023, we know that there are still many exciting opportunities in the future. Important infrastructure work in Hillcrest, a new plan for city hall and a transit hub are some of the many things that could benefit residents and we continue to plan for those initiatives.”

Cabott said the city is working hard to have the proposed capital budget in place by the beginning of next year.

“This will give local businesses and contractors as much advance notice as possible, so they can prioritize and plan for the city’s upcoming capital projects,” she said.

“We are doing this to maximize economic opportunities for all of our local businesses.”

Cabott concluded by encouraging the business community and residents to provide feedback on the proposed budget.

A public input session is scheduled for the Nov. 28 council meeting and second and third readings of the required bylaw are scheduled for Dec. 12, she said.

Cabott also thanked city administration “who worked very hard to prepare the proposed budget.”