Budget meeting pushed back as officials switch focus to provincial directives

City of North Bay officials postponed a special committee meeting of council originally scheduled for Tuesday evening to switch focus to the Ontario government's announcements related to the COVID-19 pandemic yesterday.

See related story: COVID-19: Ontario declares state of emergency

Mayor Al McDonald indicated via social media he has called a meeting of the City of North Bay's EOCG (Emergency Operations Control Group) to further examine Premier Doug Ford's state of emergency and imminent stay-at-home orders and how the measures relate to the City and its residents.

Communications Officer Gord Young advised the "special committee meeting of council has been cancelled in light of today’s provincial announcement regarding the stay at home orders and state of emergency. The meeting will be rescheduled at a later date."

Tuesday's postponed meeting had been scheduled to address and move forward with the City's 2021 budget. The next council meetings listed on the City's website include a special committee meeting on labour relations Thursday at noon and joint committee and council meetings January 26.

Budget deliberations neared completion before the holiday break but were slightly derailed by the revelation of an $800,000 shortfall due to a Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) glitch in its rates forwarded to the City.

See also: WSIB to blame for 'glitch' — City still responsible for shortfall

The 2021 tax levy was in the final stages to be approved with a $3.1 million increase of 3.36 per cent over 2020 on a $97 million budget. The WSIB situation increases the levy increase to 4.22 per cent over 2020's budget.

The City of North Bay has held regular distanced EOCG meetings since the onset of the pandemic. Organizations that take part in the meetings the City of North Bay; North Bay Police Service; North Bay Fire and Emergency Services; North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit; North Bay Regional Health Centre; District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board; Community Living North Bay; Children's Aid Society of the District of Nipissing and Parry Sound; Ontario Health; Waters Edge Care Community; and, North Bay Emergency Medical Services.