Sarnia city staff have presented a draft capital budget for 2022 which details $55 million in spending.
The proposed budget, presented during a strategic planning meeting Monday, is $6.6 million less than 2021, but includes a $7 million dollar shortfall.
Chief Administrative Officer Chris Carter said there's still work to do.
"Right now, this is what staff would love to spend, obviously, in 2022," he said. "The numbers could change. This is just a document for council to consider."
The draft includes several significant projects; $5.2 million for the oversize load corridor, $3.25 million for shoreline protection and $2 million in road rehabilitation.
"Approximately two to three years ago, staff requested council to put away two per cent into capital asset management, so you'll have that, we'll show that in the budget where we recommend to spend that," Carter said. "I believe we're sitting at about $5 million dollars in addition to what you currently had before for asset management replacement. So, there's a lot of balls in the air right now. We don't want to say this is the final document, which everyone is aware of, but we do have some work to do."
Just over $1.92 million is included for updates at Tecumseh Park and the Cox Youth Centre, and $1.9 million is proposed for Progressive Auto Sales Arena improvements.
Funding for a design for Ferry Dock Hill, a new lifeguard station and washroom building at Canatara Park and a Strangway Community Centre gymnasium expansion are also included.
There's also a request to fund the Germain Park master plan.
After years of planning, over $2.5 million to replace the Colborne Road fire station is included in the 2022 capital budget.
Sarnia council accepted a design proposal for the new station in April.
Sarnia Fire also included nearly $1.6 million for gear replacement and a previously approved radio system.
About $1.6 million is being requested to replace transit buses and another $1.6 million to relocate the Murphy Road terminal to Clearwater Arena -- half of which is being covered by Federal government funding.
Mayor Mike Bradley reminded his colleagues that pandemic subsidies won't last forever.
"I'm expecting this will be the last good budget for us for at least a year or two, as we move forward and governments provincially and federally start cutting back on the infrastructure funding, " said Bradley. "So, I think we need to do what we can this year, and do our best, but prepare ourselves down the road that those matching grants and other programs may not exist in the years to follow."
The draft capital budget also includes a $30 million dollar wish list.
Treasurer Holly Reynolds included over ten additional projects, like a multi-use recreation facility, an outdoor skating rink, and a fountain and pedestrian bridge at Canatara Park for consideration.
"These additional projects have not been embedded in the $55 million dollars, so they will be incremental," said Reynolds. "They don't necessarily create a 2022 capital impact. A number of these are very large projects, so 2022 would likely be the design/architect costs, and then the build would be out over a number of years."
Draft budget highlights will be released October 22.
City council budget deliberations will be held December 7.