Thunder Bay city council to vote on water, tax rebate for low income citizens

Thunder Bay city councillors will vote Monday night on a program that could help reduce water and tax bills for homeowners with a low income.

Council has flip-flopped on the program, proposed earlier this year as part of budget deliberations and then voted down.

City councillor Andrew Foulds said a new pilot project, brought forward by councillor Trevor Giertuga, has some key differences from what was originally voted down. 

"Originally, I had brought it forward. It lost very narrowly on a split vote. There was a revote on it, and it lost. And then I have to give credit where credit is due. Councillor Trevor Giertuga brought it back."

He hopes this new resolution, now presented as a pilot project, will get the support of council, as it has already passed two readings.

Foulds said the program, which would provide a $200 total credit for both water and taxes for those who own their home and meet the income threshold, would be evaluated before the next budget.

"We're going to do some analysis on the program to see what the uptake is. And then, next year's budget we'll decide if we want to continue with this particular program. I suspect the need is there."