THUNDER BAY -- A projected $3.2-million municipal budget deficit is no more.
Budget chair Frank Pullia on Friday said city administration, as requested by council, has found savings in the capital and operations budget that will offset the overrun caused by higher than expected police and legal costs.
On Sept. 21 council passed a plan that eliminated $3.02 million. Friday’s announcement erases the remainder, Pullia said.
“There had been savings found in operations and deferrals in capital items, trips or small capital projects that didn’t need to be done this year that can wait or positions that had not been filled that can be wait be filled,” Pullia said.
“But while we have found the savings, the challenge is to make the savings sustainable for the long term.”
Council cannot keep pushing projects off the table, Pullia said, adding they tried to cut the costs without affecting service or personnel levels.
“Council has given direction to administration to find almost $2 million in ongoing savings. The cost of operation, the cost of doing business is not sustainable and has to come down,” Pullia said. “Those are long-term savings that our administration has been looking diligently at finding so we can live within our means.”
Pullia will host a public town hall meeting about the budget on Nov. 15.
