Bigger, councillors freeze taxes, pass 2015 budget

It will be a tall mountain to climb next year, but city council unanimously passed its $514 million budget Thursday that froze taxes while still including funding for key projects.

Those projects include $500,000 for cycling infrastructure, a promise to provide $200,000 in annual operating funding starting next year for the Art Gallery of Sudbury, as well as new Sudbury Transit route stops at St. Gabriel's Villa in Chelmsford.

Council achieved the freeze by eliminating about $2.5 million in planned capital spending, used more than $500,000 from unspent HCI funds and drew millions from reserve funds.

In total, $6 million will have to be replenished over the next year, and staff were given the task of finding that money through savings in employee attrition, increases in revenue from user fees and increasing the money the city gets from advertising revenue.

But Mayor Brian Bigger was able to keep his campaign pledge to freeze taxes without reductions in service levels or laying off staff.

“I think we're in a good position, because we have clear direction on where to look for that $6 million,” Bigger said Thursday. “These objectives are very achievable.”

He praised staff and all 12 councillors for their work in achieving the freeze, saying it was the definition of a team effort.

“The most impressive thing is we saw valuable input from right around the council table,” Bigger said. “Each councillor contributed in their own way.

“It really showed how strong and united this council is – we (proved that we) can still invest in this city while holding the tax rate at zero … That's the part that makes this budget so special.”

Budget chair Mike Jakubo was singled out for praise by Bigger, as was Chief Financial Officer Lorella Hayes. For his part, Jakubo said next year will be a challenge, but he was satisfied with what they have accomplished so far.

“We've all united as a team behind our mayor to achieve a tax freeze for our citizens,” Jakubo said. “We've been elected to be the change people of Greater Sudbury want to see. And change is never easy.”

Among the items approved Thursday:

– Increasing annual spending on watershed studies to $250,000;

-- Annual funding for the Art Gallery of Sudbury of $200,000, starting in 2016;

-- $20,000 for Rayside-Balfour Youth Centre;

-- Plans to spend $500,000 on cycling infrastructure this year, using a reserve fund, and $800,000 starting in 2016;

-- A target of raising $1 million by selling city buildings, as well as increasing city advertising revenue by $250,000;

-- Cancelling $2.5 million in previously approved capital projects;

-- Funding for Junction Creek Stewardship Committee of $30,000 each year for the next four years;

-- Permanent grant for Crime Stoppers of $50,000 a year; and,

-- $50,000 for Greater Sudbury Transit Wayfinding maps.

City CAO Doug Nadorozny praised councillors for getting through what he called one of the more complex budget processes in the city's history.

“There were times in the process where I thought we would be here until April or May,” Nadorozny said. “We've dipped into savings a little bit to get there, to the tune of $6 million ... We'll get at that starting tomorrow.”

When asked after the meeting if residents should expect another tax freeze in 2016, Bigger said he promised a freeze only in his first year.