Thunder Bay City Council is set to get cost-saving recommendations from the latest phase of the city’s version of a deep audit known as a program and services review.
Some of the suggestions include selling Port Arthur Stadium, the Botanical Conservatory and the Jumbo Gardens Community Centre. The report also suggests closing and repurposing the Boulevard Lake beach and ending the lease with the Vale Community Centre.
There is also a recommendation to close both city golf courses, reduce the number of skating rinks by eight, and dissolve the Sister Cities Committee and reduce travel costs for that program through modern technology.
Unloading Port Arthur Stadium would save the city over $113,000, Golf course savings would be $100,000, while Jumbo Gardens being closed would result in a savings of just over $30,000.
City manager Norm Gale says there isn’t any immediate decisions attached to the report that is going before council Monday night. He says council wanted the report so they could be better informed going into the 2021 budget season.
“Members of council can ask whatever questions they wish, questions of clarity, questions for further information from Grant Thornton and then we’ll see where this goes downstream,” Gale said.
He went on to say he wouldn’t make a comment on what the appetite of city council could be towards some of the suggested cost-savings.
“Clearly we know they wanted an independent report, they are receiving that independent report just now, so we will see where this goes,” Gale added.
You can read the items up for discussion on Monday night by clicking this LINK.
