The City of Sarnia ended 2016 with a combined surplus of $1.14-million.
Councillor Brian White congratulated staff on the results.
"I want to say thank you to Ms. Armstrong [Sarnia's finance director] and the management team for bringing some very positive news to us," says White.
Councillor Mike Kelch echoed the sentiment.
"This is usually the time where we start feeling like we've got some bad news coming our way at the end of the year and this is exactly the opposite of that," says Kelch. "It goes to the budget process that we're using and it is working. I thank everyone who's involved. I think the taxpayer will be happy and at the end of the day, in December when we sit around and do the budget -- I believe that we will be in a little bit of a better mood than normal."
Increased recycling revenues, a Bluewater Power dividend and winter maintenance being under budget were contributing factors.
The 2016 year-end operating and water surplus will be transferred to reserves.
A year-end sanitary sewer deficit, amounting to $238,000, will be funded by a capital infrastructure - sewer reserve.
