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LETTER: Essential services are the city's responsibility

Essential services are the city’s responsibility As members of the Northwood Group of Concerned Residents, a deputation was given on Dec. 15th, highlighting the longstanding pocket flooding issues within the area.

Essential services are the city’s responsibility

As members of the Northwood Group of Concerned Residents, a deputation was  given on Dec. 15th, highlighting the longstanding pocket flooding issues within the area. To date, our lobbying for infrastructural improvements resulted in an engineering study undertaken by Hatch Mott MacDonald.

The study has recommended more than $12 million in improvements for Northwood and McKellar wards over the next three years, of which more than $9 million is scheduled for Northwood, or 17/22 projects. Not surprising, as we strongly believed that our infrastructure required vast improvements.

The engineering professionals have now endorsed our belief and identified specific improvements.

A recent media report indicated there has been a $1.5M reduction in Ontario Municipal Partnership Funding (OMPF) to the city, directly impacting the budget, residential taxes and infrastructure spending.

City manager Tim Commisso stated he believes less will be spent on infrastructure this year in order to make up for increases on the operating side. Mayor Hobbs stated, however, a decrease was expected but “…we just received an
increase in infrastructure funding from the province, so I’m not overly concerned”.

Residents have received assurances from administration and council that the “storm sewer capital budget” will see a continued increase over the next number of years through the Enhanced Infrastructure Renewal Program.

But despite the Study’s recommendations and timeframes, the precarious state of the city’s current financial condition will not allow for the full implementation. Select council members proposed a 2.5 per cent tax
increase to ensure the financial feasibility for the projects to move forward.

All citizens of Thunder Bay must understand the magnitude of ailing infrastructure and the shift of full responsibility to the taxpayer is precedent setting. With the majority of the work scheduled for Northwood,

it is obvious our infrastructure has been neglected. These “deficiencies” are not upgrades, but basic necessities that should be in place for all taxpaying residents.

The mayor’s affirmation of increased provincial infrastructure funding contradicts the necessity for a tax increase. Delaying infrastructure improvements that will mitigate the effects of a storm is likely far more costly than that of the required improvements, especially if all costs are considered.

It is not a  matter of if we get another storm of the same magnitude but when.

Budgetary dollars are limited, however, it is the responsibility of administration and council to exercise its’ due diligence and ensure our city’s infrastructure remains a top priority.  Tax increases should not be the solution in order for citizens of Thunder Bay to receive essential services.

The Chamber of Commerce released a 2014 report which predicted that property taxes will reach alarming levels if municipal spending continues to increase at the current rate.  Total operating expenses have increased from $346 million in 2002 to $505 million in 2012.

Are you willing to continually have your taxes increased in order to receive essential services; or should administration and council re-examine operational deficiencies, cost effectiveness and priorities as deemed by the citizens of Thunder Bay?

Maria Cole and Valerie Cameron,
Northwood Group of Concerned Residents





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