Single-year budget?

That on-again, off-again debate about multi-year budgeting appears to be headed for a conclusion.

Council on Monday is expected to debate whether they want to review a one-, two- or three-year operating budget. Coun. Roger Lemieux intends to introduce such a motion on Oct. 27.

There's been quite a bit of back and forth on this issue during the last year. Since the spring, admnistration has been operating under direction to prepare the full 2009-11 budget and present it starting Oct. 27. Council had agreed to first review all three years worth of budget requests before deciding whether to approve one, two or three years worth of spending.

If council does have a change of heart and Lemieux's motion passes (and it sounds like the majority is leaning that way), they could ask to hear just the 2009 budget presentations and focus their questions on that year alone.

This would likely mean fewer budget meetings this year, but additional deliberations in 2009 and 2010.

Lemieux's notice of motion only refers to the operating budget. He indicated he's still in favour of a multi-year capital budget.

Read more in Saturday's Gazette.