Thunder Bay city council already over budget for 2016

Superior Morning4:55Rising Costs - City Council

There was lots of talk of money at Thunder Bay city hall last night. We'll hear one idea from the mayor, of how to recoup some costs from city police.

Thunder Bay councillors heard Monday night how the city budget for 2016 is already veering into the red by several hundred thousand dollars.

Administration projects the budget has an unfavourable variance of anywhere between $386,000 and $768,300, whichworks out to somewhere between 0.2 and 0.3 per cent of the city's overall $235.1Mbudget.

"I am not that alarmed," said Northwood Councillor Shelby Ch'ng.

"I'm not concerned with the amount of money."

Council heard how the majority of the shortfall is due toovertime from police, who have dealt with standoffs and homicides for the first three months of the year.

The other cause for the shortfall is insurance claims.

Councillor Trevor Giertuga had one suggestion to try and get ahead of any potential budget shortfalls.

"Are we giving any consideration to getting the budget done early this year?"

Giertuga noted that the budget is generally passed in February or early March, meaning variances have already occurred before city council has even finalized the annual budget.

Police change staffing

Council heard how Thunder Bay Police are trying to change staffing levels to bring down costs.

"I can tell you however that we are moving to hiring more civilian staff, particularly special constables," said Deputy Police Chief Andy Hay."Which will mean as attrition occurs, we can phase out a number of sworn officer positions and civilianize them."

Hay said police are also attempting to hire more part-time staff, to help cover sick leave and vacation schedules, instead of paying staff overtime.

BalmoralUpdate

Council also heard how work on Balmoral Street will have to be scaled back for thisyear. The city planned on rebuilding a section between the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway and Alloy Drive.

The work will be only done up to Hewitson Street, because the cost of the project came in $2,700,000higher than anticipated, due toadditional storm sewer work, and the addition of a multi-use trail.

The job will be done in three phases, over the next three summers.