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City looks to ease pain with financial relief

City council will consider raft of measures including tax deferment, waiving fees, and fund for non-profits
Mauro COVID-19 Presser NEW
Mayor Bill Mauro, flanked by city manager Norm Gale, speaks at a press conference earlier this month. (Ian Kaufman, tbnewswatch.com)

THUNDER BAY – Some financial relief may be on the way for Thunder Bay residents, businesses, and non-profits, as city council considers a raft of measures to ease the economic pain of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Council had directed city administration to prepare a menu of relief options at last week’s meeting. On Monday, councillors will vote on a proposal estimated to cost the city $672,000. The bulk of that price tag comes from extending deadlines for tax and water bill payments and creating an emergency fund for local non-profits, while the proposal also includes several smaller measures.

If the package is approved, the first of two municipal tax installments, due May 6, would be deferred to July 8. Meanwhile, the late-payment fee for quarterly water bills due in April, May, and June would be waived. Together, the city estimates that would save residents and businesses around $370,000.

The city would also establish an emergency fund of $235,000 for local non-profits. The funding would be limited to recipients of the city’s Community, Youth & Cultural fund, which includes a large number of Thunder Bay’s major non-profit organizations, from food banks to youth and arts programs. City administration would be responsible for allocating the funds, with a requirement to report back to council.

Under the proposal, the city would also cease all collections work, other than that which is legislatively required, and waive fees for non-sufficient funds (NSF) related to tax and water payments for 90 days.

The package also eases fees and deadlines for a number of city programs. That includes extending the deadline to apply for the tax and water credit programs for seniors and persons with disabilities to September, and waiving fees for re-issuing marriage licenses and services for three months.

In measures aimed to help business, the city would extend the payment deadline for accounts receivable invoices for April, May, and June from 30 to 90 days, waive business-related permit and license fees for 2020 for a three-month period, and reduce sign permit fees by 25 per cent for the next year.

Monday’s council meeting will be closed to the public but can be watched on television or online.



Ian Kaufman

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