Budget freeze request on ice for now

A request to freeze any new city spending in 2018 is still being considered by Timmins city council.

Councillor Joe Campbell put the resolution on the table Tuesday night, saying there are many economic challenges ahead for Timmins.

He says it’s “common knowledge” that the city is facing double-digit tax increases at this stage.

“We want to talk about being attractive to future economic development,” he said, “But if you want to make a community unattractive, have double digit tax increases.”

Councillor Pat Bamford says be understands where Campbell is coming from, but adds the city is in a better position financially than Campbell thinks.

Councillor Noella Rinaldo adds she would love to stay at the same level as 2017 and have taxes stay the same, but realistically, that would come at a big cost.

“We know that we’ll have to do that by cutting services or cutting jobs or cutting some of the things we do,” she said, “So, I think we’re going through that process now and that’s when I’ll be able to stand forward and put forward what we think we have to be doing going ahead.”

Mayor Steve Black says there’s always something happening in Timmins and noted a number of different expansions.

He says if council wants to be fiscally responsible, they may have to go down the controversial road of cutting services to the city.

“We did a core services review, transit routes and low volume ones came up,” he said, “That’s a very hot topic in the community to discuss if you’re going to go there.”

Black proceeded to talk rural roads, saying if council is serious about cutting costs, contemplating expansion and taking on more roads isn’t the way to do it.

When it came time to vote on Campbell’s proposal, Councillor Walter Wawrzaszek requested a deferral.

He says it was written in a way that Campbell didn’t intend to, and this would give him a chance to revise it.

The deferral vote passed unanimously.

CLICK HERE to see Campbell’s proposal.

CLICK HERE for the full discussion, under Item 4J and 6F.