No tax hike in 2015: Sudbury council
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The votes are in and things look good for community groups and patrons of culture.
After nearly two months of debate and discussion, council approved the budget on Thursday, which will guide the city through the next 12 months.
"I think it's a strong budget and the best one we could come up with, with a relatively new council," Mayor Brian Bigger said. "It really showed how strong and united this council is, and I appreciate the openness in discussions and the willingness to rethink, refocus and rebalance our budget for 2015."
"I'd also like to note how we can invest in the city while holding the tax rate to zero," he said, adding there was valuable input from all councillors at the table.
Councillors graded 41 budget options in order of importance. To be accepted as part of the final budget, each item had to score a value of 72 or higher.
The Art Gallery of Sudbury fared well and, effective 2016, will see $200,000 in permanent annual funding. Arts and culture grants, which currently fund 17 organizations, also got a $12,000 boost.
"It's a sign of a maturing community to have a gallery," Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann said following the meeting.
She campaigned hard throughout the budget process for increased arts funding. "This is really something. They have a fabulous collection, the half of which we haven't even seen, so it's a big step forward. "¦ It bodes well for the future."
Perhaps the greatest victory for Landry-Altmann was a commitment, after more than five years, of funding to complete the Mountain Street storm water outlet project.
"It's been a long road, and so we're here," she told reporters after the meeting. Visibly moved, Landry-Altmann fought to speak through her tears.
"The idea was to have it in a committed reserve, which means the funds have been committed to that project, not in another reserve fund. And that was the point. This means the people on Mountain Street can get insurance. It's a big deal."
There was a little pedal to the medal for city's cycling community. Council committed $500,000 in 2015 and $800,000 every year thereafter to fund cycling infrastructure.
Although not a large amount, it is a good start, said Ward 6 Coun. Rene Lapierre.
"I think it's important; I think cycling plays a huge role in transportation, health, and in getting people to and from work," he said. "Some people can't afford parking, so if they have alternate means of transportation, it's a fantastic thing. Currently we don't have the full infrastructure we need."
Councillors needed to trim $8.4 million from its $512 million budget. To meet their goal, council scrapped $2.2 million in capital projects; leaving behind a budget of $110 million, up from $95 million in 2014. At $45 million, roadways and drain investments continue to be a major component of the capital budget.
The watershed study could finally become reality, as council voted to commit $250,000 annually to a dedicated reserve fund. As expected, the physician recruitment program got a one-time infusion of $150,000. Council also voted to maintain the Autumnal tipping fee holiday. That week could have generated as much as $80,000 in revenue, but several councillors worried its elimination would result in illegal dumping.
To achieve the tax freeze, council voted to draw $6 million from various reserve funds. Doug Nadorozny, the city's chief administrative officer, told council that city staff faces a significant challenge in making up those withdrawals, primarily through user fees, attrition and reduced costs at Tom Davies Square.
But the mayor was undeterred.
"I'm very confident we can find that $6 million and staff reiterated they were confident," Bigger said after the meeting.
With this budget, there is an approximate shortfall of $500,000 to realize the tax freeze. Landry-Altmann suggested using the monies left over in the HCI fund - about $500,000 - to cover it.
"Our proposition is that we free up the 2014 HCI (funds) to bring us down to zero percent and refreeze the $600,000 that remains (until after) the consultation," she said. "The options we've agreed on here affect all in our community. They're touching every part of the city and that is the spirit of the HCI. It's an opportunity."
Council voted in favour of the motion; however, the future of the fund will not be finalized until after the public input session takes place on March 24.
While the budget includes a broad spectrum of items that should please the communities of this community, Bigger hinted after the meeting that cuts could come in 2016.
"There will be a second look at how we deliver services in 2016," he told reporters. "Obviously, in each year we'll look at ways to be more efficient and effective."
There could also be tax hikes on the horizon.
"This is not planned to be zero percent for the entire four-year term. The plan was to hold taxes in the first year and to really get a detailed look at and understanding of the budget," he said.
maryk.keown@sunmedia.ca
Twitter: @marykkeown
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