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THUNDER BAY – The City of Thunder Bay is projecting an $800,000 year-end variance in its overall rate-supported operations in 2025.
The tax-supported budget, as a whole, will likely not experience a significant negative or positive variance, according to the city’s latest projections.
The $800,000 rate-supported surplus includes $600,000 from the solid waste facility, $400,000 from the wastewater division and $400,000 from waterworks.
It’s partially offset by a $600,000 shortfall in projected parking revenue, a direct result of city council deciding earlier this year to waive most on-street parking fees.
The tax-supported expenditure report shows Thunder Bay Police with a $300,000 favourable variance projection, mainly due to contracted services and materials, which include insourcing vehicle maintenance and a renegotiated contract with a vendor.
Other departments with favourable year-end budget variances include solid waste ($200,000), strategic initiatives and engagement ($200,000), revenue ($400,000), corporate information technology ($200,000), licensing and enforcement ($200,000), long-term care and senior services ($500,000), Superior North Emergency Medical Services ($200,000) and engineering and operations ($200,000).
Most of the favourable variances are the result of savings realized by staff vacancies.
Departments with unfavourable variance projections include Thunder Bay Fire Rescue, which is expected to have a $200,000 shortfall, mainly due to WSIB and overtime costs, and roads, which is projected to have an unfavourable variance of $400,000.
Corporate expenditures have a $2.4-million unfavourable variance, based on a $2.8-million allowance and is tied to departmental vacancies, something city officials say are tough to predict. The vacancy allowance is projected based on historical trends and the actual savings are reflected in each division’s numbers.
City council is expected to receive the report at Monday’s committee of the whole meeting.
