Budget direction

City council will discuss on Monday whether they should adopt a proposed multi-year budget direction that could raise taxes by as much as 2.5 per cent from 2012 to 2014.

Three suggestions by city administration will go before council.  Only one of the three options does not increase taxes to the operating budget. Administration suggested that council approve the second option, which would increase taxes by 1.5 per cent.

At-Large coun. Aldo Ruberto said he liked the idea of a multi-year budget but was concerned about the raise in taxes. He said even though the budget would look over a longer period, council would continue to have the right to make changes per year.

“Even if we get directions say we have a three year direction and something comes up in the second year or first year that changed our minds or influenced it we can adjust,” Ruberto said. “We have to really take a look at the effect of raising taxes. I’m not against raising taxes but if we’re going to raise it, it has to be on the right shoulders not on everyone, not carte blanche. That doesn’t make sense to me.”

Ruberto said he suspected residents wouldn’t like the idea about taxes going up especially in light of increased water rates.
He added that if there wasn’t a demand for more money from government officials than they probably wouldn’t have to raise taxes that much.

Some of the other items that will appear before council will include:

• The 2011 Clean Green & Beautiful Awards
• Northwestern Ontario Immigration Portal
• Deputations from Rendez-Vous 2012 Joint World Conference
• A report from the Employee Wellness Program
• A report from the Advisory Committee on Anti-Racism Action Plan
• The 2012 Interim Tax Levy
• A report on the Rick Hansen Relay
• The Victoriaville Civic Centre and Parkade Elevator Modernization
• Update to the 2011-2014 City of Thunder Bay Strategic Plan
• Appointment of Acting Mayors

City council will be held in the S.H. Blake Memorial Auditorium at city hall at 6: 30 p.m.