Decision day: after considering dozens of options, budget vote goes Thursday

Are you ready for Lake Walmart? Or Canadian Tire Lake?

Greater Sudbury Mayor suggested at Wednesday's budget meeting that the city should explore raising advertising revenue by selling naming rights to some of the 40 or so unnamed lakes in Greater Sudbury.

“We can create a market,” Bigger quipped, as councillors waded through almost 100 budget options in their quest to freeze taxes this year without laying off staff.

Staff responded that the province might have the jurisdiction to name lakes, not the city, but would look into the matter further and report back to council.

While not voting to approve any of the options, councillors did vote to reject a few staff suggestions on how to hold the line on taxes this year. Among the ideas that were rejected was changing the definition of a senior from 55 to 65.

“I think it's going to have too much of a negative impact,” said Ward 5 Coun. Bob Kirwan, before the idea was easily voted down.

Councillors also rejected a proposal to save more than $30,000 spent each year for flower pots and watering in Capreol and downtown. Ward 3 Coun. Gerry Montpellier drew a few laughs when he suggested maybe the city's firetrucks could “give them a squirt every now and then.”

There was opposition to other staff suggestions to save money, such as eliminating the annual tipping fee holiday at city dumps, closing city libraries on Sundays in Lively and Chelmsford and reducing councillor expense budgets.

Some councillors described the staff options as “shameful” and “disgraceful.”

“These are the options presented to us by staff,” said Ward 11 Coun. Lynne Reynolds. “Frankly I'm insulted.”

One option that received some support was a plan to direct staff to increase advertising revenue by $250,000 a year.

When asked by Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann where the new revenue would come from, staff said they needed time to study the idea, since it came from council, not them.

But Ward 1 Coun. Mark Signoretti said it shouldn't be difficult.

“I think that's their job,” Signoretti said. “I think they should easily be able to find that.”

Councillors also rejected an option to partially fund $200,000 in new annual funding for the Art Gallery of Sudbury by reducing the amount the city gives to arts groups by $100,000 – the amount council has traditionally given the art gallery.

Landry-Altmann also advocated for accelerating a $4-million plan to address chronic flooding issues on Mountain Street, showing a video of a city bus driving through a flooded street, with water rising almost halfway up the bus.

“This nightmare has lasted for six years,” she said, adding that residents in the area can't get insurance for their homes because of the water issues.

Councillors supported accelerating a plan to deal with soaring leaf and yard waste collection costs, by requiring residents to put the waste in paper bags, rather than clear plastic.

Staff had recommended phasing in the plan because many residents still had a supply of clear plastic bags designed to hold the waste. But they accepted Montpellier's suggestion residents be allowed to use the clear plastic for garbage (normally they prefer only green or black bags) until residents have used up their inventory.

Councillors also agreed to add a budget option to provide Sudbury Transit service to St. Joseph's Villa in Chelmsford. It's the only long-term care facility in the city without service, he said.

They also voted to accept Kirwan's plan to find $4.4 million in savings this year through user fee revenue increases and staff attrition savings. But they will wait until they see where they are once they have voted on all the budget options on Thursday before they set the actual savings target for the year.

With all the changes voted on Wednesday, council must find $345,893 in savings or cuts to reach a budget freeze, if all the budget options currently on the list are accepted.

Budget meetings resume Thursday at 4 p.m., with a special city council meeting scheduled immediately afterward to formally pass the budget.

They also voted to fund free rides for seniors from the provincial gas tax revenue. A report on the idea scheduled for June, with a start date targeted for September.