Sault Ste. Marie budget hike largest in five years
Sault Ste. Marie has confirmed its budget for 2022, which includes a property tax hike of just more than four per cent, the biggest increase in the last five years.
City council approved the new budget Monday night after getting the police board to rework its costs for the year.
The $500,000 in savings the board found is barely making a dent to the tax hike. City Coun. Lisa Vezeau-Allen said most of the cost is incurred by social services and Algoma Public Health, who are dealing with a poverty crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Say if your taxes are $2,800-$3,000 annually, the cost to that ratepayer per month is under $10," Vezeau-Allen said. "So I feel better that our homelessness population is being taken care of, Algoma Public Health has the tools that it needs."
Council passed a resolution introduced by Vezeau-Allen that allows city administrators to help police in its civilian roles.
She said that will reduce future spending and improve policing.
"It's really, really important from our perspective as the police board and just as a citizen of our community, we want to see police budget dollars go into officers on the ground," Vezeau-Allen said.
City council also approved the purchase of new fare boxes for its buses, with an eye on reducing operating costs. The director of community services said the change will make using the bus easier and eventually lead to an increase in ridership.
"We were experiencing some challenges with respect to proper recording and tracking, so bus drivers would have to manually hit a button so that the fare was tracked," said Brent Lamming.
A buyer has also been found for the M.S. Norgoma, an aging ship that the city has been paying to dock at Algoma Steel since 2019.
Vezeau-Allen said the city isn't getting much up front but will free up $40 per day it's spending to dock the boat.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Heavy snow, freezing rain warnings hit parts of Canada, expected to last throughout Monday
Significant snowfall and heavy rain hit parts of Canada on Sunday and the weather system is expected to continue into Monday morning and throughout the day.
BoC expected to lower interest rates again, with odds leaning toward larger cut
Financial markets and forecasters are betting on another jumbo interest rate cut from the Bank of Canada this week.
The Canada Post strike involving more than 55,000 has hit 25 days
The Canada Post strike involving more than 55,000 workers has hit 25 days.
Celebrities spotted at Taylor Swift's final Eras Tour performance in Vancouver
Taylor Swift fans from around the world gathered in Vancouver on Sunday to witness the final performance of her massively popular Eras Tour, including a few celebrities.
Government faces third Tory non-confidence vote ahead of potential fiscal hurdle
The Liberals are set to face a third Conservative non-confidence vote today, but the government is likely to survive with the support of the NDP.
U.S. should be concerned about illegal immigration from Canada: Canadian survey
More than 80 per cent of Canadians believe the flow of illegal immigrants from Canada to the U.S. is a concern, according to a new survey.
Jay-Z denies allegations he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old in 2000 with Sean 'Diddy' Combs
A woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by Sean 'Diddy' Combs has amended her lawsuit to include allegations that she was also assaulted by Jay-Z at the same party.
Taylor Swift ends record-smashing Eras Tour in Vancouver, after glittering global run
Taylor Swift took the stage for the final time on her record-smashing Eras Tour, watched by tens of thousands of delirious fans in Vancouver's BC Place arena and by millions on livestreams around the world.
Syrian prime minister says government is still functioning but foreign and domestic challenges loom
Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers are still working from offices in Damascus after rebels entered the capital over the weekend and overthrew President Bashar Assad. Streams of refugees crossed in from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future.