Peterborough city councillors went through the municipality’s draft budget for 2024 page by page and line by line last week. Sitting as finance committee for three nights in a row starting on November 20, they were staring down a potential 9.59 percent increase to residential property taxes next year and were on the lookout for ways to reign in spending.

Arthur has teamed up with Peterborough Currents to cover the municipal budget deliberations in a limited-run podcast series. Episode three focuses on the November 20 to 22 finance committee meetings.

In particular, we focus on five stories that emerged during council’s budget deliberations. From a proposed funding cut for social assistance medical benefits, to an airport that loses millions every year, these are five budget items that provoked debate among councillors.