The City of Thunder Bay have released their proposal for the 2022 city budget.

Some key take-aways from the newly proposed budget is that the city is laying out a 4 per cent gross increase for the Operating Budget.

Water rates increase by about 3 per cent ($20.12/yr on average) for 2022, as well as wastewater at the same rate ($18.12/yr on average) per home.

2022 Key Budget Drivers

Increases to the tax levy include:

$1.6 million increase for Police Services
$1 million capital financed by the tax levy
$1 million in expansions, including Licensing & Enforcement, Parks (Pool 6) and Superior North EMS
$500,000 in Program and Services Review implementation including HR Recruitment, Digital Strategy and Municipal Recycling Program
$500,000 in Insurance premiums
$300,000 for Outside Boards
$200,000 for the Police Services Board

Reductions to the tax levy include:

$1.3 million in tax write-offs, insurance claims and legal fees reduction based on recent trend analysis
$800,000 in Increased Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund allocation
$600,000 in reduced Thunder Bay Fire Rescue staffing costs in accordance with the Thunder Bay Fire Rescue Master Plan
$300,000 in user fee increases

The proposed 2022 Capital financed by the tax levy budget of $17.4 million represents an increase of $1 million over 2021 levels increasing the investment in infrastructure renewal.

The estimated impact of COVID-19 in 2022 is $7 million.

You can read more and view the whole budget proposal online here.