The city is overspending and overtaxing Thunder Bay members of the public say.
City council heard six deputations from concerned citizens Tuesday night during a pre-budget consultation session.
Former Neebing Ward candidate Henry Wojak said by his estimates the city has made over $40 million from tax increases since 2003 yet no one could tell him where the money was spent.
"The last council we had took our extra tax dollars without showing us anything for those dollars hopefully this new council will be better," Wojak said. "We are picking up paying up and cleaning up after the last council."
Wojak said cuts are needed in the municipal staff levels. He also suggested the city close down the Water Street Fire Station and use it to solve Thunder Bay’s detox bed problem by housing those with substance abuse issues at the fire hall.
Recent widow Sandra Taggart said its getting harder for seniors on fixed incomes to afford housing and other services in the city. Taggart said from the proposed 14 per cent incerase in water to gas and hydro increases, low income earners always seem to pay the consequences she said.
"It’s really a lot for me to wonder what I’m gong to do next," she said
Jon Powers said the city isn’t listening to the public. He said for major capital projects, plebicites should be used.
"Do you trust the people to make the best choices? If you don’t why did you run?" Powers asked city council. "It’s not a right to be in those chairs it’s a privilege."
From the waterfront to the call centre at Victoriaville, Powers said the people are being billed for too many capital projects.
Former Current River Ward candidate Andy Wolff said he’s concerned about the budget process in general. Wolff asked council how much time it had to spend with the budget before making decisions.
"How much control does the city council have over the budget?" he said.
Wolff said people in Thunder Bay cannot afford another tax hike like the proposed 1.6 per cent in the 2011 budget. He suggested the city use its reserve funds to keep the tax rate the same as 2010.
"Just use whatever we can to just level the tax rate," he said.
Linda Bruins from the Evergreen neighbourhood asked the city to put up lights and boards for hockey rinks at Minnesota Park which were taken down five or six years ago she said. The neighbourhood has a weekly skate night at the park with over 60 children attending. Bruins said she would like two see two rinks set up to meet the demand.
"We have no lighting so it’s a little on the dark side we improvise where we can," she said. "The teen boys would love to play hockey without hitting the four year old girls trying to learn how to skate".
