Thunder Bay council to square off on budget cuts

City councillors in Thunder Bay may be in for a long meeting tonight as council debates how to bring down the proposed tax increase that currently sits at about four percent.

There's already one proposal on the agenda: Coun. Rebecca Johnson has recommended closing the wildlife exhibit at Chippewa Park as early as the summer of 2016. 

"I believe it stands as a symbol of an outdated practice. And, I wonder what else we're doing that is outdated. How can we move forward as a city and generate this discussion about what we want this city to look like?" said Coun. Shelby Ch'ng.

Johnson said she has a list of other suggestions for reducing the budget that she'll bring to tonight's meeting.

Other items that could be debated include shutting down another city-run golf course.

Councillors have been exchanging ideas on how to reduce any tax increase, said budget chair Frank Pullia.

"I get a sense that there will be additional efforts to find more savings," he said. "We're looking at it in a lot more detail ... So, I'm sure that there will be something more that will come up."

Another idea that has been raised and may be debated is shutting down another city-run golf course.

Coun. Andrew Foulds said he hopes his motion to include all people of low income in the city's tax and water rebate credit program won't be among the items cut from the budget. 

"I think we have been very progressive in this area," he said. "We have some people living on the fringe, and this small rebate will go a long way."