If the novel coronavirus pandemic continues into December, it could cost the City of Edmonton close to $260 million. That was described as the “worst-case scenario” by Mayor Don Iveson in a news conference on Wednesday.
But even the more likely scenario has worsened since previous cost estimates. Previously, the city said it could cost between $27 and $117 million.
New numbers presented by Iveson suggest the city could sustain a $140-million hit to revenues if shutdowns continue to mid-September.
That has led city council to have a number of conversations about how to offset that loss, including additional layoffs, cuts from the city’s infrastructure program and drawing from reserves. “If you go past the September scenario and climb into