THUNDER BAY – The City of Thunder Bay has released a proposed budget for 2021 that would hold total spending to a two per cent increase.
The draft document prepared by city administration would see the city's gross operating budget rise by $6.3 million from 2020 to just over $317 million in 2021.
It also proposes raising the city's capital budget by 10.6 per cent, to $51.6 million.
That would require a hike of $4.3 million to the municipal tax levy, an increase of 2.15 per cent.
After projected growth of $300,000 in taxation revenue, that falls to two per cent, or an even $4 million.
The proposed budget will be debated by city council over the course of January and early February, with a vote on approval expected Feb. 8.
This article will be updated after a briefing held by the city later Tuesday morning.
A survey available online from Tuesday until Feb. 4 will allow residents to provide feedback on the proposed budget.
Citizens will also be invited to make deputations to City Council on Jan. 14 and Feb. 4.
Pre-budget consultations, which received 500 survey responses, indicated respondents wanted to see the city maintain core services, address issues including pinhole leaks and poverty, and “not proceeding with the Multi-use Indoor Turf Facility,” according to a city report.
