The City of North Bay's operating budget deliberations continue this week on Wednesday and, if needed, Thursday evening.
Capital budget talks will take place March 18–20.
Meetings are held in the Mayor's Boardroom on the fifth floor of North Bay City Hall. The proceedings get underway at 5:30 p.m. and have been wrapping up just before 9 p.m.
Council members, who will ultimately vote on the budget's approval, ask questions of the management and staff of the municipality's various departments and declare their preliminary support or opposition for the service level changes.
The proposed tax levy increase in the proposed 2024 Operating Budget is 4.76 per cent or $5,034,207 above the 2023 operating levy of $105,765,198, for a 2024 operating levy of $110,799,405.
The levy increase is still subject to service level enhancements or reductions, all of which are up for discussion this week.
The final 2024 operating budget will be adjusted to reflect council's support for the proposals. The budget is expected to be reviewed, refined, and passed in early April.
Notable service level changes that have received support from council members include $20,000 in funding for lifeguards; $915,000 (minus the use of some reserves) in 2024–25 for North Bay's centennial celebration, including a grant program to foster community involvement; $100,000 to extend the downtown and area Peer Outreach and Security Team program; new user fees for the Bourke Playground pickleball courts; and, software to aid in enforcing the short-term rental by-law.
The council will also hear a proposal for the implementation of a recycling program for municipal parks and the waterfront, the downtown business area, arenas, city hall and parking facilities. The program is pencilled in at $52,000 for the final six months of the year.
And, a city transit fare increase is also on the table. The cash fare would rise from $3 to $3.25, with 10-trip cards rising from $27 to $29.25. A monthly adult pass would cost $93, up from $86. A student's monthly pass would go up $6 to $77.
None of the above have been officially added to the budget document.
Included in the operating budget are the City of North Bay's levy requirements for its service partners, including the North Bay Police Services and the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board. Service partners represent approximately 51 per cent of the overall tax levy increase for 2024.
According to the City of North Bay, the Operating Budget strives to balance various pressures the City must consider on an annual basis including legislated requirements, contracts, inflation, supply chain issues, capital investments, fuel, utilities, insurance, levy requirements of Service Partners, and requests for various service enhancements.
For more on the process, including links to the budget documents:
