City officials were planning on completing the 2018 budget process before the end of the year and it appears that’s going to happen.

Budget Chief Sheldon Forgette says they’ll be voting on a 1.3 per cent levy increase at a special meeting this Thursday, December 14th.

He says that’s the lowest budget increase in at least 10 years.

“I feel pretty good about it, it’s a conservative number. If you look at the track record of Council over the last few years it’s been a pretty conservative Council, it’s been aggressive at keeping taxes low for the everyday taxpayers,” Forgette says.

The city is getting an added $1.56-million in Ontario Municipal Partnership Funding, which they’re pleased about.

“It took a lot of years to lobby the province for that money, past councils have been involved, so we’re happy that we’re getting that money,” Forgette says.

He says Council also recently passed the 2018 water rates.

“The average person will probably see their water bill go up about $4 a month, it all depends on their usage again,” Forgette says.

The city’s $20.6-million capital budget was approved in mid-November.

Filed under: 2018 budget, North Bay City Council