THUNDER BAY --- The city is monitoring spending and trying to delay and defer hiring as it starts the year more than $830,000 in the hole.
A first-quarter variance report shows more than $505,000 of the shortfall comes from winter control overages, $21,800 from the Thunder Bay Police Service and $157,000 from early leave, fringe benefits, death and termination costs.
"We’re not off to a good start for the year,” Coun. Rebecca Johnson said.
But she pointed out that it's better than where the city was a year ago, when it was more than $1 million behind by the end of March.
At-large Coun. Iain Angus said given that only twice in the past decade has the city's variance ended unfavourably, including last year when the city wound up spending $3.6 million more than initially planned, he trusts the city will have it sorted out by the end of the year.
"I think we have a fair bit of confidence in administration,” he said.
Council was also given the city's non-consolidated financial statements, which shows total assets of $271.9 million as of the end of 2014.
Cash and investments have dropped $33.1 million to $44.6 million from last year mainly due to a $9.5 million decrease in reserves, a $16.9 million increase in capital financing and another $5.7 million drop in accounts payable.
Capital expenditures went up more than $10 million from 2013 to $93.6 million last year.
Around $35 million of that is for environmental services, which includes everything from sewers to $11.8 million for ongoing work from the May 28, 2012 flood.
Another $27.8 million was for transportation services, which is everything from roads to traffic lights. The $11 million listed for recreation and cultural services included the proposed event centre design work and upgrades at various pools, arenas and golf courses. Another $7.8 million designated for protection to persons and property included the two new fire stations and emergency vehicle upgrades.
General government, from computer software to corporate facility upgrades, cost $3.5 million while $3.3 million spent on health services included $1.5 million for the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute, money originally approved in 2010, as well as equipment and building upgrades.
The remaining $800,000 went to maintenance at the city-owned Pioneer Ridge senior home and for a new roof at the 55+ Centre.