The Municipal Tax Levy remains below the starting point of 2% heading into February.
Wednesday’s third session of budget deliberations saw the levy increase to 1.98% before growth and 1.75% after growth thanks to a few increases.
In the six hour session, the elected body earmarked $67,900 to freeze transit fares for the remainder of 2021 and added $15,000 each towards the Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy, Age Friendly Thunder Bay and Poverty Free Thunder Bay.
Council also approved a recommended one-time cut from administration of $12,000 for outside boards but soundly defeated three other suggestions for reductions totaling $147,200. They included $109,000 towards the CEDC Reserve Fund, $100,000 for the Clean Green and Beautiful Reserve Fund and a total of $38,200 for CEDC cleaning related expenses.
The Victoria Avenue BIA Budget was reduced from $120,000 to $60,000, which will shrink the Business Improvement Area levy and the Municipal Tax Levy by $30,000 each. That money will instead be allocated to the Parks and Open Spaces budget to plant trees on Archibald and Brodie Streets.
What’s Changed
- Insurance costs are $238,000 less than estimated
- The levy for the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board is $167,800 lower than expected
- Council reduced the hit to the stabilization reserve fund by $125,000 to fund the $8.7 million COVID impact
- Insurance costs are $234,400 less than estimated
- $138,400 increase for Canada Penson Plan/Employment Insurance costs
- $149,400 in reduced debenture interest, MPAC levy, Community Youth & Culture Funding Program ongoing
- $1.24 million to the Stabilization Reserve Fund through Federal and Provincial Safe Restart Operating Funds
Reducing The Hit On the Stabilization Reserve Fund
$41,200 to fund the $8.7 million COVID impact
- Removing property acquisition for Northwest Arterial for $50,000
- Removing one pedestrian crossover for $75,000
- Adding Community Youth and Culture funding program COVID-19 relief for $83,800
Updated list of recommended cuts to offset the impact of COVID-19
2. Defer Generator Replacement – $150,000
3. Close one community aquatic facility – $226,800
4. Reduce transit hours – $50,000
7. Community Partnership Reserve Fund – $100,000
9. Contribution to Renew Thunder Bay – $250,000
10. Defer opening of Cashier Counter Service – $41,000
11. McKellar Mall – $138,700
12. Engineering (property acquisition) – $25,000
15. Engineering (cancel chip sealing) – $30,000
16. Engineering (Traffic calming) – $50,000
19. Environment (residential drainage rebate) – $50,000
20. No rides at Chippewa and Muskeg Express – $46,000
21. No campgrounds at Chippewa and Trowbridge Falls – $11,700
23. Open golf courses on May 14th – $20,000
24. Defer design and planning for the next splash pad – $50,000
25. Defer the renewal of golf assets – $50,000
30. Adopt a Road program – $5,300
34. Defer the purchase of a weather station – $25,000
35. Curb ramping – $35,000
Budget Key Dates
February 2nd – Budget Review Meeting
February 4th – Public Post-Budget Consultation
February 8th – Budget ratified by City Council
For the February 4th Meeting
- Deputation requests must be received by the Office of the City Clerk no later than 4:30 p.m. Friday January 29th. Walk-in deputations will not be permitted
- Four options for providing a deputation: by videoconference, by telephone, through the city hall lobby kiosk, or by sending a letter to Council
- Deputation requests can be made by emailing officeofthecityclerk@thunderbay.ca or by completing the online Speak Before Council
