The city of Windsor ran a $5.8-million deficit in 2018, but it's not raising red flags at city hall.
Nearly 500-projects are on the go throughout the city that are worth more than a $1-billion — most come in on or under budget.
This year 23 projects ran over budget, but two of those projects accounted for nearly $5-million and pushed the city into the red.
Transforming the intersection of University Ave. W. and Sandwich St. into a roundabout was rolling along smoothly until the excavation came to a grinding halt after Indigenous artifacts were found.
City Engineer Mark Winterton says the work cost an extra $1.2-million.
"It's something we weren't anticipating and we hadn't come across before," he says. "It absolutely added up to a fairly substantial number and a fairly substantial delay in the contract."
Winterton tells CTV Windsor the city was required under federal law to stop construction and allow the first nations community to perform a careful archeological dig.
Thousands of artifacts were found, some 10,000 years old, but the delay was a costly lesson.
"We really have to get in early and develop that scope and what it is they want to establish out of an engagement process," added Winterton.
The roundabout wasn't the only city project that blew the budget. Back-to-back rain storms walloped Windsor in 2016 and 2017 causing an estimated $300-million of insured damage.
Among a list of short-term measures is the basement flooding protection subsidy program with the city fronting 100% of the cost to install back-water-valves and sump-pumps.
Winterton estimates 7,300 applications to the program will cost the city $3.6-million more than budgeted.
"It means we got the word out. We're getting a very strong uptake on this, which allows people to take advantage of helping them help themselves," says Winterton. "It's costing the city some money, but it's money well spent."
Councillor Irek Kusmierczyk says the number of people getting approved for work is still just a drop in the bucket compared to the city's population and expects more applications next year.
"Some residents had $10,000 of damage, some had $25,000, some had $50,000 of damage." he says. "We'll make sure the money is there for this program, that's how important it is."
The hit won't be as severe as it seems because it can be balanced by the city's surplus, bringing the total deficit to $3.4-million.
The report goes before council Monday night.
— with files from CTV Windsor's Rich Garton.