THUNDER BAY -- While some councillors including mayor Keith Hobbs hate this year's proposed budget, they accepted it anyway.
The proposed tax levy increase stands at 4.6 per cent, 3.99 per cent if growth isn't factored in, after city council's third and final budget meeting Wednesday before the budget is ratified next month. The original proposal was 6.33 per cent, 5.69 without growth, until council adopted reductions last week suggested by city manager Tim Commisso.
Hobbs, who wanted to get the levy down to at least 3.5 per cent, said he hated to vote for it but it had been a tough budget with few big ideas to get costs down.
"We’re just about done the budget and no one's really coming up with anything,” Hobbs said.
The only major proposed major reduction came from Coun. Larry Hebert who suggested the city hold off on replacing anything in its fleet this year, which would have saved more than $4 million. But councillors were told the city has a fleet replacement plan in place for a reason and any cost saved now will only have to be spent in other years.
"Delaying something now creates issues down the road,” facilities and fleet manager Michael Smith said.
The only changes to the budget Wednesday were small additions, including $100,000 as councillors voted to raise water and tax rebates for low-income seniors and people with disabilities from $100 to $200. That's to try and help with the expected three per cent water rate increase along with the sewer surcharge jump from 75 to 90 per cent.
Another $17,000 was included to hire a summer law student so the city can get its sign bylaw, which has been in progress for more than a decade, off the ground.
Councillors also went against administration's recommendation and increased the amount of time a city transit transfer is good for from one to two hours. Those in favour of the idea said the idea might increase ridership, despite the city's transit master plan arguing otherwise.
"Just to reiterate, there will be a negative impact on revenue,” Smith said.
The idea appeared to be lost on a 4-4 tie when chair Coun. Linda Rydholm started to discuss whether or not to vote for the increase. Hobbs called her out of order, Coun. Aldo Ruberto asked for a re-vote and Rydholm broke the tie.
"Thank you Mr. Hobbs, you made up my mind for me,” Rydholm said.
"What a chair," Hobbs said.
Rink rentals were proposed to go up from $120 per hour to $123 until council voted to bump that up to $125, gaining around $21,000 a year.
Despite council passing the budget, the entire thing, including amendments, could be brought up again during ratification March 2. That's also when Coun. Frank Pullia, Coun. Trevor Giertuga and Coun. Rebecca Johnson, all missing Wednesday, could weigh in.
