THUNDER BAY -- City council wasted no time proposing more than $2.6 million be cut from this year's budget Wednesday night.
Before going through the proposed budget line by line councillors voted to to accept two packages of reductions brought forward by city manager Tim Commisso that, when growth is factored in, takes the proposed levy from 6.3 per cent to 4.75.
That number could have dropped even more but mayor Keith Hobbs wanted to keep $125,600 to expand youth services and add $63,500 for Shelter House's SOS program, which council agreed to. More than $1.6 million of that reduction will come from deferring capital projects like work on Roland Street and the Marina Park pedestrian overpass.
For more than $1.1 million on the operating side, the city would reduce its fuel budget by $250,000, defer having a litigation lawyer for $151,700 and ask the Thunder Bay Police Board to hold its budget to a one per cent increase.
Councillors are also waiting to hear back on a number of other ideas next week that includes whether Thunder Bay Fire Rescue could do without a proposed new pumper that would cost $690,000. Mayor Keith Hobbs asked for a memo on how much maintenance costs have been so far.
"I’d like to see another two years out of this if we can,” Hobbs said.
Coun. Larry Hebert went further wondering if the city's entire fleet could hold off on any replacements this year.
"Surely our vehicles can't be in bad enough shape that we can't wait another year,” Hebert said.
Concerned about a tax and water rebate program, Coun. Andrew Foulds wants the city to expand it to all low-income people as its currently only available for seniors and people with disabilities. Council will have to wait to hear back on that until city lawyers take a look as the provincial Municipal Act might prevent the city from expanding the program.
There will also be a report back after Coun. Iain Angus asked if the city could add another bylaw enforcement officer to work evenings and be more active in enfrocing city bylaws rather than the complaint-driven process it currently has.
Development and emergency services manager said that would cost around $80,000 but he has some concerns about sending someone out at night all alone to try and tackle things like noise or people smoking too close to doors. It also might be difficult under the city's collective agreement with the union to get someone to work those hours.
The proposed reductions so far have come from recommendations made by Commisso before the budget was presented. Hobbs said now council has to look at other ways to save money and get the proposed levy to at least 3.5 per cent.
"I think it's going to be very tough," he said.
Alberta Premier Jim Prentice recently announced his cabinet is going to cut their salaries by five per cent. When asked whether council should do the same, Hobbs said he's cut expenses in the mayor's office every year over the past four years and that he's one of the lowest paid mayors in the province for a city the size of Thunder Bay.
He's requested those figures be brought to council next week.
"I'm certainly not taking a budget cut. I'd quit before I did that," he said.
Council will pick up the budget again Feb. 10.
Editor's Note: Proposed levy increase has changed from 6.3 per cent to about 4.75 per cent. Earlier versions of this story inaccurately stated the proposed levy dropped to 4.69 per cent.
