BUDGET APPROVED — On Monday, Toronto Council approved the first reading for the city’s 2025-2026 budget. -- Warren Scott

TORONTO — On Monday, Toronto Council approved the first reading for a $25.5 million budget that includes a number of projects involving city facilities.

The budget’s approval is pending additional readings in March, after which it will be submitted to the state for approval.

Councilman at large Mike Burkey said the budget was developed through two meetings involving the city’s finance committee, which he chairs; City Auditor Kayla Whitlatch and the city’s department heads.

City Services Director Linda Burkey confirmed it includes several projects involving repairs or improvements to the city’s wastewater treatment plant and other city facilities.

She said the roof of the City Building needs to be patched while the garage used to store equipment for Toronto Union Cemetery is leaking and needs to be replaced.

Several of the projects center around the city’s swimming pool and include repairs to the shelter house and its women’s restroom, a new storage building for chemicals used for the pool, the completion of wiring for the new shelter built last year and new gutters for the older shelter.

Whitlatch said in addition to the various projects, the budget reflects a projected 25 percent increase for health care coverage for the city’s employees, which she said is fairly typical, and 3 percent raises for most city employees that were negotiated and approved earlier by council.

Councilman at large Larry Glenn said many residents have expressed concern about street paving, and a lot of funds have been allocated for that.

On Monday, council received a report from City Crew Leader Don Starkey on efforts to treat and repair roads during this rougher winter season.

Starkey estimated 25 to 30 inches of snow have fallen on the city this year, making it necessary to treat city streets with about 750 tons of salt and 4,500 pounds of calcium chloride, the latter more effective in subzero temperatures.

He added crews have used about 16 tons of cold patch to fill potholes on an almost daily basis.

In other business, everyone was reminded that grave blankets should be removed from the cemetery’s plots by March 31 or they will be removed by city crews on April 1.

Council’s next regular meeting will be held at 7 p.m. March 10 at the City Building.