MEDIARELEASE

www.thunderbay.ca

CouncilReviewGetsUnderway

Proposed2017CityBudgetReleased
January24,2017Theproposed2017MunicipalBudgetdocumentspreparedbyCityAdministrationwere
releasedandformthestartingpointforCityCouncilsdetailedreview.

ThisproposedBudgetaddressesseveralkeyareasintheCitysfinances,saidNormGale,CityManager.
Theseincludeincreasedcontributionstoourreservefunds,stabilizationofbudgetsforLegalandPolice
Services,consistentfundingforcapitalandinfrastructureprojectsandreductionsintheoperatingbudgets.

Iftheproposed2017Budgetwereapprovedaspresented,anincreaseinthenettaxlevyaftergrowthwould
be$5.5millionor3.07percent.

WhiletheproposedBudgetmeetsCouncilsdirectiontoAdministration,itisimportanttonotethatthe
proposedbudgetisastartingpoint,saidCouncillorFrankPullia,ChairAdministrativeServices.
ChangesmayresultasthepubicprovidesinputandasCouncildeliberatesduringthedetailedreviewtofind
permanentsavingsintheoperatingbudget,whiledealingwithongoingcostescalations."

MajorFactorsoverandabovetheinflationaryincreasesimpactingtheproposed2017Budgetinclude:
StabilizationMeasuresincludinglegalfees,insuranceclaims,golf,earlyleaveandreducedrelianceon
reservefunds$2.3million
ReserveFundcontributionsincludinglegal,insurance,WSIB,RenewThunderBayandremovalofprior
yearonetimecontributions$1.3million
Debenturepayment(capitalprojects)increase$0.9million
IncreasestotheThunderBayPoliceServicestoaddressovertime,staffingandothercosts$1.1million
ExpansionstoprogramsincludingRoadsQualityObjectives,ActiveTransportationMaintenanceand
SolidWaste$0.7million
Increasesrelatedtoenergycosts,snowremoval,andareductiontoChildCarerevenue$0.8million
ThesemajordrivershavebeenoffsetbyreductionsmadetoOperationsthroughaCityManagers
reviewprocesstotaling$2.2million,aswellasinsurancepremiumreductionof$0.6million,resulting
intotalsavingsof$2.8million.

Theproposed2017NetCapitalbudgetof$15.9millionisconsistentwith2016levels.

APublicPreBudgetDeputationMeetingwilltakeplaceonTuesday,Jan.31,at6:30pm,atCityHallinCouncil
Chambers.CouncilsBudgetReviewswilltakeplaceonFeb.2,7,9&15withapprovalexpectedonTuesday,
Feb.21.Theproposed2017CapitalandOperatingBudgetsandCommunityHandbookarenowavailable
onlineatthunderbay.ca/budgetandattheWaverleyandBrodieLibrarybranches.

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Contacts:

Spokesperson:

NormGale,CityManager8076252224
LindaEvans,GeneralManagerCorporateServices&LongTermCare,8076252241
CouncillorFrankPullia,ChairAdministrativeServices,isthespokespersonfor
CouncilduringBudgetdeliberations8077676579