THUNDER BAY – Staff representing every city department except one lined the walls of the gymnasium at the 55 Plus Centre on Tuesday to begin consultations for next year’s municipal budget.
The Thunder Bay Police Service, which has run five consecutive deficits including $865,000 over budget in 2015 and a projected a year-end deficit of $1 million in 2016, was notably absent from the forum where citizens provided input for their 2017 priorities.
City manager Norm Gale and budget chairman Frank Pullia confirmed the police had been invited to the event but neither of them, nor police services board members Coun. Brian McKinnon or Joe Virdiramo could offer any explanation for the department’s absence.
The police budget makes up 4.3 per cent of the city's total tax-supported capital budget.
Thunder Bay Police Service officials offered an apology and explanation Wednesday morning regarding their absence, stating an illness and an operational priority had prevented them from having representation at the public consultation.
"Deputy (Chief Andy) Hay would like to invite anyone who had questions from last night regarding the police budget to contact him today at 684-1304," the statement reads.
"We'd like to assure the public that the (Thunder Bay Police Service) administration works very closely with the city manager and city finance to address concerns and community needs, which is a critical part of the city's budget process."
Fifty citizens attended the session, which allowed them to ask questions and offer priorities directly to nearly as many members of city staff and volunteers.
"What a great opportunity for me to listen to people who live in this city. I don't know how many people I chatted with tonight -- many people; a wide variety of opinions; impassioned opinions, informed opinions and disparate opinions -- differing ideas," Gale said.
"It's a boon for me and a boon for administration to hear that and it absolutely will inform our work with administration as we move forward with the budget process."
Pullia illustrated Thunder Bay’s median income stands at $34,370 in 2012 compared to Ontario’s median income of $31,310. The city falls 10th of 25 Ontario municipalities with a population over 100,000 when it comes to property taxes as a percentage of household income.
When comparing property taxes of a single detached bungalow directly with 27 other municipalities that have populations over 100,000, Thunder Bay finds itself in 15th place.
Pullia said he heard constituents express a desire to see the municipality foster a quality of life beyond core services, provided the budget stay lean.
“At the end of the day, it’s a balancing act. We’ll strive to run a most efficient operation as possible and we want people to get the sense they’re getting value for their tax dollars. That’s what I heard tonight,” he said.
“If we can reassure people that’s happening and then people were saying to me, I don’t mind paying a little more tax as long as I know that money is well spent.”
Gale will present a Budget Directions report to council on Monday while Pullia will deliver a report in November comparing local municipal costs with similar communities.
An “open mike” budget forum will take place in November and the final budget is expected to be complete in February.
