Council approves 2024 budget with 4.84 per cent levy hike

Spending close to half a million dollars a minute over more than five hours, Sault Ste. Marie city council tonight approved a 2024 budget that includes an overall municipal levy of $141 million.

Counting city finances as well as local and levy boards, that adds up to a 4.84 per cent levy increase for local ratepayers.

The levy hike was down, however from a preliminary city operating budget that proposed a 7.14 per cent levy hike.

The city's portion of the municipal levy, approved at a 312-minute meeting tonight, was up 1.45 per cent from 2023.

The levies and local boards portion was up 3.39 per cent.

The following adjustments, suggested by Chief Administrative Officer Malcolm White, were approved tonight to the budget's preliminary draft:

• Fire pumper - $82,500 increase
• Physician recruitment - additional city contribution - $50,000 increase
• Summer student complement increases (6 students) - $69,275 increase
• Conversion of food & beverage from part-time to full-time (offset by additional revenues) - $0
• Part-time food & beverage offset by additional revenues - $0
• John Rhodes roof replacement - internal debt/no levy impact -$0
• Fire Services - Fire - NG-911 - computer aided dispatch  - internal debt funded through 2026 / $150,000 2027+ - $0

The following adjustments, suggested by city councillors, were approved tonight to the budget's preliminary draft:

• Phase in public works equipment over one additional year -$183,000 decrease
• Phase out one-half of 2023 fuel tax stabilization - $200,000 decrease
• Reduction in fuel increase by 15 per cent - $20,259 decrease
• Reduction in utility increase by 15 per cent - $29,725 decrease
• Reduction in capital inflationary adjustment - $100,000 decrease
• Reduce Crime Stoppers grant - $25,000 decrease
• Reduce Algoma University grant - $40,000 decrease
• Mayor/Council special funds decrease - $20,000 decrease
• Outdoor rink reduction - $75,000 decrease
• Fund Innovation Centre from Community Development Fund instead of levy - $277,890 decrease to levy
• New Bylaw Enforcement Officer & Supervisor of Building/Bylaw positions - $59,918 increase
• Increase to Soo Greyhound revenue - $50,000 decrease to levy
• Maintenance to graffitied/damaged public art - $8,000 increase
• Transit - make the Adventure Bus program permanent - $8,000 increase