City of Kingston Ready to Strengthen Workforce Following Pandemic Hiring Freeze – Kingston | The Canadian News

The number of municipal employees in the City of Kingston is about to increase.

The city is preparing to spend around $ 4.5 million to rehire city workers who were laid off or had their jobs frozen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2022 budget estimates include increased staff costs required to bring some services back to pre-pandemic levels.

The city’s transit department will receive an additional $ 2 million to bring staff 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 Theater.

The budget also includes other start-up jobs to match the council’s priorities, such as management roles to run heritage services.

2:04Kingston City Council Votes In Favor of COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Without Threat to Employment