At $81 million, the City of Red Deer’s proposed 2018 capital budget would be its smallest in 10 years.

The draft budget, released Wednesday morning, is about $30 million less than what it was projected to be a year ago.

City officials cite slow growth, the lingering effects of the poor economy resulting in lower revenues.

As a result, several projects have been deferred to the city’s $1.3 billion long-term capital plan, a vision that solely guides council’s considerations.

One of them includes Northland Drive, a road that would carry traffic north-south from Highway 11A at Gaetz Avenue to 19 Street.

That project relied on offsite levies charged to developers. The 10-year average for development has been 50 ha per year. In 2017, that number dropped to 15 ha. As growth has slowed, the recommendation is to defer the major construction for three years.

"Obviously from the community's perspective, we'd like to see the north highway connector continue. That relieves congestion off the QEII and then it helps north-south movement in the community,” said Mayor Tara Veer.

“Having said that, we have to be pragmatic and look at the current state of off-site levies and we certainly can't exacerbate the financial reality of offsite levies as they currently stand today by pursuing the north-highway connector unreasonably in the budget year we find ourselves in."​

The largest projects would be in water utility infrastructure, work on the wastewater treatment plant, pavement rehabilitation and roadway reconstruction.

"This particular capital plan for 2018 is fundamentally, primarily a rehabilitation and maintenance project of the core services and utilities with some fairly minor amenity development,” said Craig Curtis.

Some others include additional washrooms at the Bower Ponds pavilion, expansion of a meeting and dining room as well as office space at Heritage Ranch, upgrades to City Hall Park, and venue improvements for the 2019 Canada Winter Games.

The public has until Nov. 24 to provide feedback before council reviews the budget from Nov. 29-30. Residents can email legislativeservices@reddeer.ca or make submissions at City Hall, the Collicutt Centre, Recreation Centre or any of the three library branches.