North Bay is increasing its operating budget by 2.21 percent. The number didn’t sit well with councillor Mark King who says Sudbury came in with a zero percent increase. However budget chair Sheldon Forgette countered that Sudbury used money from its reserve fund to reach that zero increase. North Bay is also taking $390,000 from reserves to keep the tax levy increase at 2.21 percent. King took exception to the increase saying he’s siding with taxpayers who are faced with increasing costs of home ownership. Meanwhile councillor Chris Mayne says the city is saving about $400,000 by using less salt on roads, not replacing culverts and no more Christmas tree pick-ups. Mayne adds other costs were kept down by deferring capital projects like the work on John Street to another time. Council is expected to formally vote on the increase next Monday.
