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THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay’s city council has offered a full-throated endorsement of a proposed police budget that includes an increase of nearly $4 million, the largest factor behind a historically high property tax hike many councillors say they’re determined to reduce.
On Wednesday, council signalled clearly it won’t look to find any of those cuts in the police department, which has proposed an expansion of over 20 full-time staff, while acknowledging city spending on police is “unsustainable.” The city would spend just over $55 million on policing in 2023 - roughly a quarter of its net budget - if council accepts the proposed police budget. That's up about seven per cent, or just shy of $4 million, from 2022.
Most of those roles are expected to be hired through internal promotions, with vacated positions backfilled with new recruits. The service estimated it could recruit four experienced officers from elsewhere, with Taddeo saying the TBPS is facing growing recruitment challenges. Council also learned cutting the tax levy could become slightly more challenging, with staff reporting a possible addition of over $600,000 to the budget related to the city’s levy to the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board .
Council left the budget essentially untouched Wednesday, with the tax levy increase remaining at roughly 6.6 per cent, or 6 per cent after accounting for growth in the city’s tax base.
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