KINGSTON – City officials in Kingston are looking to tighten the city’s belt, expecting budget cuts due to the economic stress caused by COVID 19. However, one such potential cut was shot down by the common council, Tuesday evening, following information that ceasing the project in question would cost more.
The renovation and repair of the 33-45 North Front Street canopy was proposed to be a feasible cut to save the city money, but just before Tuesday’s session, the council was informed their contractor would require compensation for postponing during mid-contract. Even if the item had been tabled, rather than voted on immediately, it would have resulted in approximately two weeks of downtime. The incurred cost was estimated to be approximately $90,000, in addition to the $700,000 total project cost.
Sixth Ward Alderman Tony Davis said he wants to be as careful as possible with any spending during this time and make sure the city isn’t losing already allocated taxpayer investments either.
“To waste that, if we were to pause it and be unsure with an unknown dollar amount if we were to bring it back up and start again, it’s going to cost more. In this economic time, I want to just be financially responsible for whatever money that we’re spending, that we’re spending it to the best of our ability,” said Davis.
Members of the council are entertaining possibly removing the canopy later, as the annual costs for upkeep are approximately $100,000; but, with the current contract, the work already initiated needs to be finished.
Common Council President Andrea Shaut said despite this particular instance, the mayor’s office assures that there will be cuts coming. Guidelines for communication between the mayor’s office and council have just been established and where the cuts are coming from has yet to be determined.
