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Town struggles to find more budget cash Continued from pg. 1 Bonnette said funding could be found from other sources, such as the gas tax, to make up the $100,000 for the planned work and if not, then $1.3 million would still be spent on street resurfacing this year. Chief Administrative Officer Dennis Perlin said the full amount would be spent on pavement management, even if that half per cent has to be made up in 2009-- 2008 is the last year of 2 per cent dedicated tax. "Because council controls the budget process for the next four years, and by managing that program, we can still proceed to complete the work that was intended to be completed," Perlin said. "The work can be scheduled in such a way that invoices that come in from the program will arrive in 2008 and will be paid out of the 2008 pavement management program. So even if you do nothing with the gas tax, you can still achieve it... council controls that." Finance Director Ed DeSousa noted that a recent report revealed that $30 million is needed for repairing local roads and related works. Manager of Public Works Ted Drewlo added losing the half per cent will impact projects now and in the `I would look it as being a little unfair if we cut something out of Ward 4 in the pavement management plan, when it's affected all the other wards in previous years.' BOB INGLIS future, and that immediately alarmed Ward 4 Councillor Bob Inglis, who said his constituents have waiting patiently, and some impatiently, for road repairs for years. "I would look it as being a little unfair if we cut something out of Ward 4 in the pavement management plan, when it's affected all the other wards in previous years," Inglis said. He proposed a solution: since the four new firefighters will not be hired until November, then use unspent $200,000 in salaries in 2007 to reduce the taxes. But DeSousa explained that money would go into the surplus, which funds the reserves. The taxpayers may get a tax break this year, but there may not be enough surplus left-- at least $325,000 is needed-- to top up depleting reserves. Inglis' suggestion went no further. Ward 3 Councillor Moya Johnson said the difference whether the half percent is there or not is $4 a year on tax bills-- at that time in the budget debate the difference between a $48 tax increase and a $52 tax increase. "I think $52 is a $1 a week for the average family," she said, "and to save them a few cents off that dollar to put at risk the pavement management program would not be a good decision." The budget committee then decided to stick to the current pavement management program. ··· Rookie Ward 4 Councillor John Duncan motioned to hire only two of the four full-time firefighters ($266,700) included in the budget, questioning whether all four are needed now. "I want a safe community as does everyone in this room," said Duncan, who admitted he had not read the Town's fire master plan report. "but I'm a little concerned about the increases being proposed. Last year, Town council made the decision to hire four firefighters per