Improvements to the City of Hamilton's streets and lighting have been affected by a drop in revenue — but Chief Operating Officer and Secretary for the City Ed Benevides said upgrades were still ongoing and public safety had not been affected.

The Royal Gazette revealed that the City of Hamilton was forecasting a $2 million shortfall in revenue for 2010, the worst for 20 years, and combined with an uncertain financial future brought about by the Municipalities Reform Act, it has been forced to adjust spending.

Mr Benevides said: "We're looking to change the lighting at Bull's Head, and as we upgrade our car parks, such as Cavendish, we will resurface and upgrade the lights as well.

"Some of that will be delayed into next year. We had a good lot of projects for this year, but revenue's dropped and we've to adjust. They were important, and still are, so they've been moved into next year."

He said Bull's Head was well-lit, but the City wanted to switch from old-fashioned sodium street lights to LED lighting to save electricity.

"Our problem with Bull's Head lighting is from a cost perspective.

"People's perception of safety in Bull's Head comes from its location — it's removed from the City and some people have a fear of it, which is why we run a shuttle."

He said Cavendish car park, at the edge of Hamilton, was "one project that we had hoped to complete this year but had to shunt to next year".

Mr Benevides said the City's tightening of its budget would not affect safety.

"Some of our capital expenditure for new poles and lights has been slightly deferred, but we're not putting people's safety second."

He pointed out that concerns over dim lighting on Cedar Avenue had been addressed. "Cedar Avenue had a couple of mentions in our town hall meetings where the trees affected some of the lights.

"We've trimmed the trees. As we replace the concrete 'cobra-head' lights with the newer, lower poles, then the lighting will be closer to the sidewalk. It's happened gradually."

With revenues lower than expected, Mr Benevides said upgrades to traffic lights, street lights and roads had to be balanced over time.

"Asphalt for roads is very expensive, for instance. So it's a matter of if it takes three years to get something done, we're looking at four. We have a little less (revenue) this year, and we've spread it out."

Assistant City engineer Allan Lee said he expected new lighting and new sidewalks by Christmas for the section of Court Street alongside the new court building, between Church Street and Victoria Street.

Mr Lee said: "I'm anticipating that by December they're trying to get the court building open. We are now doing the eastern side of the road so that the whole block is completed at the same time."