City councillor Ted Laking is once again raising concerns about financial pressures on taxpayers – as budget variance reports indicated that costs have gone overbudget on several projects.

At the Jan. 10 Standing Committee on Corporate Services, Laking first raised concerns about the amount budgeted for fuel and propane and whether it was enough.

At the time, he recalled today, indications were that the budget was adequate, as it accounted for potential price fluctuations.

However, the second quarter variance reports indicate the city is now expected to go $301,494 over the original budget.

This is in addition to the additional $459,264 spent on snow removal than was originally planned.

“It’s important to reiterate that when it comes to a number of projects that we are seeing forces outside of the control of the city resulting in our expenditures increase,” he told Monday’s council meeting.

“I think about the almost $301,000 that we are expecting to spend more on propane and heating fuel.

“We have almost $460,000 that was unanticipated for snow removal, and I do not think these increased costs are stopping anytime soon,”  Laking said.

“These costs are not discretionary; these are essential items, but this is only the second quarter variance report and we still have some major capital items to come with respect to the escarpment and Marwell lift station.

“So it is important to consider these increased costs because we are going through our budgeting process soon.”

It will be important, Laking told his colleagues, “to temper expectations what will be possible in the budget because our funds are getting tighter and the costs and unexpected costs continue to go through the roof.

“So we need to keep in mind what is essential and non-essential when it comes to spending.”