Key Takeaways
- The proposed municipal levy hike in Sault Ste. Marie has increased from 5.39% to 5.78%
- The city’s levy impact is 1.96%, which is below the rate of inflation
- The total increase to the levy, including local board budgets, is 3.82%
- The proposed changes add $622,252 to the municipal levy, but the police services found $50,000 in cuts, reducing the total increase to $572,252
- The city council budget deliberations will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m. on Monday
Introduction to the Budget Deliberations
As the city council of Sault Ste. Marie begins its budget deliberations on Monday, residents may need to prepare for a potential increase in their taxes. The proposed municipal levy hike, which was initially reported to be 5.39%, has now increased to 5.78%. This change is a result of several factors, including increased budgets for Algoma Public Health and the District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board, as well as the addition of a new firefighter to the city’s staff.
Breakdown of the Budget Increases
According to Tom Vair, the city’s chief administrative officer, the new additions to the budget include a $208,720 increase for Algoma Public Health, which is higher than the anticipated 2.8% increase due to a 9% increase in their approved budget. The District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board also saw an increase of $302,532, which is higher than the anticipated 2.8% increase due to a 4.21% increase in their approved budget. Additionally, the city has approved the addition of a new firefighter, which will cost $111,000, in order to avoid overtime costs due to anticipated absences. These changes add a total of $622,252 to the municipal levy.
Impact on Taxpayers
The proposed changes to the budget will result in a total increase to the levy of 3.82%, which includes the city’s levy impact of 1.96%. While this is still below the rate of inflation, it may still have an impact on taxpayers. The city’s levy impact is the amount that the city’s portion of the budget will increase, and it is calculated based on the city’s share of the total tax bill. The total increase to the levy, including local board budgets, is higher due to the increased costs of the local boards, such as Algoma Public Health and the Social Services Administration Board.
Police Services Budget Cuts
In a effort to reduce the proposed levy hike, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Services found $50,000 in cuts that they could make to their budget. This reduction brings the total increase to the levy down to $572,252, which is a slight decrease from the original proposed increase of $622,252. The police services were able to find these cuts by reviewing their budget and identifying areas where they could reduce spending without impacting their services.
Upcoming Budget Deliberations
The city council budget deliberations will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m. on Monday, allowing residents to watch and participate in the discussion. During the deliberations, city council will review the proposed budget and make any final decisions on the municipal levy hike. Residents who are interested in learning more about the budget and the proposed increases can tune in to the livestream and provide their feedback to the city council. The city council will take into consideration the input from residents and make decisions that will impact the city’s budget and taxes for the upcoming year.