The number of municipal employees in the City of Kingston is about to rise.
The city is getting ready to spend about $4.5 million to rehire city workers who were either laid off or had their jobs put on a freeze during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2022 budget estimates include increased staffing costs required to return some services to pre-pandemic levels.
The city’s transit department will receive an additional $2 million to bring staffing back to 2020 levels, including the return of part-time staff.
In the arts and culture sector, an additional $650,000 would be allocated to fund the return of staff to support events at the Grand Theatre.
The budget also includes other newly-created jobs to match council priorities, such as managerial roles to run heritage services.