Mr. Mayor and Council Members,
You have failed the citizens of North Bay.
Increasing property taxes during these unprecedented times adds extra stress and burden to many seniors, vulnerable people, and people who are just getting by and not able to access any of the COVID relief programs.
You should be looking at reducing expenses at City Hall.
You can put all unnecessary projects on hold therefore reducing the budget. Try to work with the funds that you have. Until this pandemic is over, you do not know what other revenue losses or expenses that may occur. There is a lot of uncertainty around COVID-19 and therefore the future is still uncertain.
I know that Deputy Mayor and City Budget Chief, Tanya Vrebosch, has said numerous times that laying off any of the city hall staff is not an option. Instead of laying off, you should consider eliminating duplicate departments/agencies (you know that I am talking about the Economic Development Department and Invest North Bay) and eliminating positions instead of hiring almost a dozen new staff this past year. It would be cheaper in the end to pay out severance than keep positions on the payroll during this pandemic.
The arena/community centre is another project that needs to be on hold. I know that some of you have a personal interest in this project.
Using accessibility as means to get a new arena is a low blow.
Do not get me wrong, I am all for accessibility. Nevertheless, you have failed us when you did not address the accessibility issues prior to the renovations at both Memorial Gardens and Double Rinks. The City Planning Department and you by association have failed to include accessibility for both the spectators and
athletics in those renovations.
With all the federal and provincial funding that the City has received to date for COVID and the Municipality Accommodation Tax, there should be no need to increase property taxes. Prioritize current and future projects to only necessary needs not wants.
Please do not continue to fail the citizens of North Bay.
Go back to the budget and reduce the taxes not increase them. Put the excessive cost of building an extravagant arena to a public vote.
Anne Taylor
North Bay
