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Timmins a 'very affordable city', says mayor

Council takes its first crack at the 2022 budget
Maija Hoggett
Maija Hoggett
2018-05-07 Timmins City Hall MH
Timmins City Hall. Maija Hoggett/TimminsToday

Timmins council has had its first public look at the 2022 budget that proposes a 1.91 per cent net expenditure increase.

Ahead of last night's discussion, Mayor George Pirie talked about some of the accomplishments and challenges ahead. 

Late next year, the Glencore Kidd Mine feasibility study is expected and over time, he said the city will transition to a service economy.

"We have moved over the last three years to an organization that’s driven by a long-term financial plan and the resulting 10-year view on forecast tax revenues and expenditures. The 10-year asset plan is essential to running the city like a business where we make these expenditures according to plan. At the same time, we’re a very affordable city. The same study that tells us exactly where our taxes sit comparably to the other municipalities tells us that we’re very affordable, including all of our user fees,” he said.

Some of the accomplishments he noted are Hollinger Park and the sports facilities that are in good shape, particularly the Archie Dillon Sportsplex, including the pool.

“We know that we continue to build infrastructure and with the completion of the pump stations in Whitney we will be well poised to step out into our next phase of growth within this community,” he said.

The proposed increase of 1.91 per cent net expenditure is a net change of $835,885. It includes a $360,667 decrease in the operating budget and a $1.19 million increase in the capital budget.

These figures do not include budgets from boards such as Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board, conservation authority, health unit, and others that will also potentially impact the tax levy. The impact of the increase on the average homeowner is not included.

Last week, council took its first public look at the water and wastewater rates. There, staff is recommending a $53 increase — $22 for water and $31 for wastewater.

The budget includes new staff positions.

By removing the director of corporate services position, staff is asking to create two new positions — a health and safety trainer and field specialist and a human resource specialist-recruitment and diversity.

There's also a request for a contract assistant for the 2022 municipal election.

“The amount of activity that goes into a municipal election is more than we could handle appropriately with the staffing we have and that’s funded through reserve,” said CAO Dave Landers during the presentation.

The other positions are at the Golden Manor, where the proposal is to convert four personal support workers from temporary fulltime positions to permanent fulltime positions, adjuvant staff and a housekeeping and laundry leader.

There is also just over $1 million for the Timmins and Area Drug Strategy for an Urgent Public Health Needs Site. This was approved in September and will be funded through reserves.

Department highlights of items $20,000 or more include:

  • $56,600 (31.82 per cent) decrease in the communication department.
  • $25,900 (114.3 per cent) increase in clerk services for inflationary increases in salaries and benefits. 
  • $42,758 (1.94 per cent) increase in information technology for inflationary increase.
  • $139,910 (17.17 per cent) decrease in human resources.
  • $33,500 (6.47 per cent) increase for health and safety. 
  • $33,800 (3.1 per cent) increase in financial services for staff salary increments.
  • $99,400 (5.65 per cent) decrease in financial expenses. The presentation notes the increase in the tax registration fees decrease the net expenditure.
  • $138,600 decrease for unclassified financial service items. An increase in cyber insurance, consulting and professional fees has been offset by an increase in interest revenue, reads the report.
  • $131,500 (1.88 per cent) increase for fire services for inflationary increases.
  • $98,577 (0.6 per cent) increase in public works and engineering.
  • $62,346 (12.51 per cent) increase for storm sewers for increased maintenance required on catch basins.
  • $21,397 (13.83 per cent) increase for landfill operations due to an increase in budgeted contractor costs for Deloro, Thornloe and Robb landfills.
  • $229,500 (135.96 per cent) decrease in building inspections.
  • $77,177 (2.07 per cent) increase for transit for inflationary increases.
  • $294,191 (5.58 per cent) decrease in parks and recreation. The presentation notes an increase in budgeted revenue is expected.
  • $117,000 (26.02 per cent decrease) in tourism, where the co-ordinator of festivals and special events position has been eliminated.
  • $278,286 (8.63 per cent) increase at the Golden Manor. The increase is for maintenance costs, new staff and a decrease in funding for the adult day care and home support.

Major capital purchases budgeted over $100,000:

  • $13,350,000 through external financing for the Golden Manor redevelopment.
  • $150,000 for storm sewer camera inspections.
  • $250,000 for storm sewer repairs.
  • $125,000 for stormwater needs study.
  • $2.4 million for landfill gas project, which will be funded internally over 10 years.
  • Transit 
    • $130,00- for pave lot, offset with funding 
    • $142,464 for Eco 60 In-Ground, offset with funding
    • $670,000 for conventional bus, offset with funding 
    • $500,000 for terminal construction, offset with funding
  • Maintenance, parks and recreation 
    • $120,000 to replace the Confederation Arena roof 
    • $200,000 to replace city hall roof 
    • $150,000 for truth and reconciliation fountain memorial
    • $100,000 for McIntyre parking lot repairs 
    • $120,000 for repair the south wall of the pool 
    • $125,000 for ActiveNet computer software
    • $400,000 for corporate building condition assessment
  • Roads 
    • $6.54 million for Connecting Link, to be funded through external financing 
    • $800,000 for Connecting Link future phase design 
    • $2.2 million to resurface Denise Street 
    • $200,000 for surface treatment
    • $2 million for grind and pave
    • $100,000 for street lights 
    • $150,000 for the Pine Street Public Works office and yard renovations 
    • $350,000 for the Langmuir Culvert, which will be funded by reserve 
    • $190,000 for the Moose Creek bridge design
    • $1 million for the Bruce Avenue Bridge 
  • Transfers 
    • $525,000 transfer to future infrastructure 
    • $171,000 transfer to fire reserve 
    • $377,000 transfer to IT reserve

The presentation also included a number of councillor requests. More detail on those items to come.

The full budget presentation is available here.