North Bay Council Approves 2023 Municipal Budget

North Bay, ON – March 15, 2022 – North Bay City Council approved a 2023 operating budget on Tuesday totalling $153.1 million.

The budget includes a tax levy of approximately $105.8 million, an increase of 4.61 per cent over last year. For an average property assessed at $220,000, this means a monthly increase of approximately $8.68 over 2022, or a $47 annual increase for every $100,000 in assessment. 

The approved budget maintains municipal service levels and provides continued support to partners including the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board, North Bay Police Service, North Bay Public Library, Capitol Centre, Cassellholme, North Bay Jack Garland Airport and North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority.

Included in the budget is the use of approximately $3 million in reserves to help reduce the tax impact on residents and business by offsetting costs substantially driven by inflationary pressures and ongoing revenue shortfalls related to impacts resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Over the next several months, Council and staff have committed to bringing in an Enterprise Resource Plan (ERP), conducting an operational review to identify KPIs (key performance indicators), performance measurements, efficiencies and areas of improvement; and reviewing financial policies and the budget process to better align with Council’s goals,” said Deputy Mayor and Budget Chief Maggie Horsefield. “All in all, the 2023 budget was an important milestone in this Council’s term and a step forward to where we want to bring the City during our tenure.”

Operating Budget Highlights:

• Support for increased staffing at the North Bay Police Service
• $40,000 in additional support for Clean Green and Beautiful and Communities in Bloom
• $16,000 to extend transit service to Couchie Memorial Drive 
• Continued support for DIA/Downtown security.
• Expansion of community programs including event hosting and other community co-ordinated events

Capital Budget Highlights:

The net general capital budget and water and wastewater capital budget total $44 million will allow the City to continue to make investments in infrastructure.

General Capital Budget

• $3,600,000 for ongoing asphalt resurfacing program
• $1,750,000 for the ongoing Cassellholme redevelopment
• $1,712,497 for the construction of new sidewalks on transit routes
• $1,600,000 added to the Main Street. rehabilitation project
• $1,078,000 for McKeown Avenue widening between Gormanville and Cartier

Water and Wastewater Capital Budget

• $5,120,500 for Wastewater Treatment Plant intake chamber replacement
• $1,756,000 for Wastewater Treatment Plant - structural repair
• $801,640 for ongoing watermain rehab and restoration
• $539,000 for Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion
• $490,000 for Digester Replacement 490,000
• $392,000 for Roof Rehab at the Wastewater Treatment Plant