The City of Thunder Bay is inviting residents to share their opinions on the proposed 2025 operating budget, which includes a 3.7 percent tax levy increase. The public can access the budget online and participate in a survey until February 4th. An in-person public engagement session will be held on January 22nd.
Thunder Bay residents are being urged to share their opinions on the proposed 2025 operating budget. Keri Greaves, commissioner of corporate services and city treasurer, emphasized the city's commitment to its residents and the importance of public feedback in shaping the budget. The proposed tax levy increase is 3.7 percent, slightly below the mandated 3.8 percent, representing a $7.8 million increase in tax revenue before growth.
This brings the tax levy-supported portion of the proposed budget to $217.4 million, with a total operating budget of $448.8 million.The public can access the budget and participate in a short survey on the city's website, open until February 4th. An in-person public engagement session is scheduled for this Wednesday (January 22nd) from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Italian Cultural Centre. Representatives from various city divisions will be present to answer questions about the proposed budget. Greaves expressed hope for a strong public turnout, stating that a fully engaged community leads to stronger decisions. He highlighted this Q&A event as a valuable opportunity for two-way communication.Public input is crucial for the administration to understand the community's needs while ensuring fiscal responsibility. Greaves acknowledged that the city has faced declining public engagement in recent years. He explained that finding the right mix to reach people effectively is an ongoing challenge. Staff are actively working to improve public engagement strategies, citing a May budget survey with low turnout as a learning experience. The city has made efforts to make budget documents more accessible and reader-friendly by reducing the reliance on spreadsheets and focusing on clear, concise information that highlights the impact of budget decisions on residents.The proposed budget will be presented to council for its first reading on January 28th. Council will have three subsequent meetings to debate the budget on January 30th, February 3rd, and February 5th. Budget ratification is scheduled for February 10th. Throughout the process, council will receive regular updates, and a final report summarizing public feedback will be presented before ratification. Greaves encouraged residents to actively participate in the process
BUDGET CITY OF THUNDER BAY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TAX LEVY OPERATING BUDGET
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