2023 municipal budget presentation scheduled for Jan. 19, budget process anticipated to be, “a challenging process”

Tim Brody - Editor

A special council meeting is being held on Jan. 19 at 5:30 p.m. for a presentation on the 2023 municipal budget.
Members of the public will be able to see the presentation in person at 25 Fifth Avenue, Council Chambers, or on the Municipality’s YouTube Channel: @SiouxLookoutON.
Carly Collins, Municipal Treasurer shared, “The Municipality, like all municipalities in Ontario, continue to struggle with the Provincial decision to freeze the implementation of assessment increases these past few years. This essentially means that there is very little additional revenue from increases in assessments. Yet, like everyone and every business in Canada, the Municipality of Sioux Lookout is also impacted by the significant increases in inflation, which directly increases the costs of goods and services, and, in turn, increases the Municipality’s operating costs. It is going to be a challenging process, and staff are working very hard to present the best possible first draft of the operating and capital budgets. There are currently very few funding opportunities available for municipalities to access at this time, however, staff continue to monitor grant opportunities.”
She added, “As we recover from the pandemic, Municipal Council and Staff will be working at minimizing the impact of the increases in costs to do business and sustain our current level of services to the community.”
Collins said if members of the public have any comments or questions regarding the 2023 Budget presentation, “They can email budget@siouxlookout.ca after the presentation.  Staff will review the questions and answer during the subsequent 2023 Budget Presentation.”
Collins said staff are hoping to have the budget approved by Council by the end of February.