Sault residents could be facing hefty tax increase
Residents of Sault Ste. Marie could be looking at a nearly six per cent municipal tax increase this year.
City staff is presenting to council the preliminary budget estimates for 2023, and as it stands, the proposed increase to the tax levy is 5.97 per cent.
CAO Malcolm White said several factors are contributing to the increase, including inflation, higher fuel costs, supply chain disruptions and more frequent severe weather events attributed to climate change.
"We've worked very hard to trim things down to where it is right now, without having any impact on services," said White.
City council will now have a couple of weeks to look over the budget and return to the table with proposed changes, which could include deferring some items or projects to next year – or eliminating them altogether.
Mayor Matthew Shoemaker said council has a tough job ahead.
"The tax increase is high," Shoemaker said.
"We all expected it to be somewhat higher than past years because of the past year's high inflation. But I don't think (the number is) something that the community would accept. And so, it's something we're going to have to sharpen our pencils to bring down."
White, meantime, said while this is a challenging year for municipal finances, the local economy is recovering.
"Algoma Steel is on a great, sustainable path, Tenaris is making significant investments in the community, we have a new owner of the Station Mall, new ownership and operations of our primary tourist attraction, the Agawa Canyon Tour Train," he said.
"So, really as a community, we're well positioned for the future."
The city is asking for feedback from residents and business owners on the proposed budget. Suggestions and comments can be sent through the city's website.
Budget deliberations are scheduled for Feb. 13-14.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Bayer recalls hydraSense baby product over 'potential contamination'
Bayer announced Thursday it is recalling two lots of its hydraSense Baby Nasal Care Easydose due to a potential contamination.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.