Council hears feedback on 2021 budget
Councillors hear few complaints as they prepare to ratify budget with lowest tax levy hike in decade Monday
Feb 4, 2021 11:01 PM By: Ian Kaufman
Updated
Poverty Free Thunder Bay urged city council to prepare for bold moves like free transit, which it promoted with a proportional fare ride in November. (Photos by Ian Kaufman, tbnewswatch.com)
THUNDER BAY – City councillors heard few complaints as they received public feedback on the 2021 municipal budget Thursday evening.
Council tentatively passed the budget on Tuesday, approving a tax levy increase of 1.83 per cent (1.6 per cent after growth) without major service reductions. It s the lowest levy hike in a decade, with councillors heeding public calls to spare residents and businesses additional financial strain during the pandemic.
A request for proposal outlined how the city is looking for a consultant to oversee the project, which has a budget of $1.8 million.
Work would start in February, with the consultant working with an architectural firm to design a greenhouse that would connect to two adjacent buildings, using the front of the new greenhouse as a link.
If approved in the 2021 budget, construction would begin by the summer, with a completion date of December 2021.
The production greenhouses grow perennials and annuals for city flower beds, but could, in the future, be potentially accessible to the public, or used for classes, the document stated.