Fort St. John’s construction numbers remain around 70 per cent behind last year’s pace.

City Hall’s October update shows 31 construction permits were issued last month, at a total value of just over $6 million.  Though there were four more permits issued in October 2009 than in the same month in 2008, the value last year was just under $17 million, almost three times as much.

This year’s October numbers bring the 2009 total to $24.3 million worth of construction in the city, which is around 30 per cent of last year’s $80.5 million total heading into November.

There have also been 46 less permits issued so far this year compared to the same ten-month period in 2008, though the one big project inflating last year’s numbers is the Enerplex.

The City’s take from the October permits is $26,650, bringing the year-to-date total to almost $102,000.