Swift Current City Councillors were divided on a proposed increase to the city's debt limit.

     By a vote of 4 to 3, City Councillors approved an increase to the debt limit from 1.5 times revenues to 2 times revenues.  The vote took place at this week's City Council meeting. 

     Councillor Jerrod Schafer says he is in favor of increasing the City's debt limit to 2.5 times revenues.  He says the responsible thing to do is to keep taxes low and pay for things over the long-term so it's not a certain group of people paying high taxes today for capital investments for the future.

     Meanwhile, Councillor Stacey Ellertson says he would rather not have the City's debt limit increased to the maximum amount.  He says it's clear that some checks and balances in the debt limit and going to the maximum amount opens a door that he is not ready to open for Swift Current taxpayers.

     The approved increase brings the city's debt limit to $60 million.