Can you believe May is just around the corner, the fifth month of 2017?  Seriously, where does the time go?

In that same instance, can you believe that a third into the year, the city’s expenditure budget has still not been passed?

It is a fact here in Timmins, as city council wasn’t ready to pass the proposed 2.41% budget increase—or just over $1.67-million dollars—Monday night as councillors expressed a lack of clarity after not having a budget meeting in more than a month.

There is also the task of figuring out what to do with a couple key questions that have gone unanswered thus far.

The talk took a turn when council was tasked with deciding what to do with a one-time only rebate of around $336,000 given to the city from the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB), stemming from the recent change in the group’s funding model.

The money is to offset the recent change for 2017 with the full model change expected to take effect in 2018.

And then came time to discuss what the city’s doing for the 2017 Connecting Link construction, with no provincial funding.

They could either delay construction for a year, or debt finance the cost for this year and pay it back on either a five or ten-year plan starting in 2018.

Treasurer Jim Howie says the anticipated rebate from the DSSAB could help the Connecting Link, but expressed concern that money is needed in their reserves as that account is low.

Councillor Rick Dubeau made a passionate plea to council regarding having more discussion on the topic, which prompted the idea of having an extra meeting in the near future.

CLICK HERE for the full conversation, under Item 3E.

After the meeting, Mayor Steve Black was asked if he’s concerned they’re this far along without a budget passed.

“Any time you get 33 per cent of the way through the year and you haven’t passed your budget, it means you don’t have 33 per cent of the year that you can even impact if you do change budget allocation,” he said, adding there’s limited things they can adjust.

Howie expressed the same sentiment during the meeting.

There will be a budget meeting held in the next week or so, though an exact date and time is yet to be determined.

Black says he hopes councillors can table any remaining items they feel need to be discussed, and they can get the budget passed.

Filed under: Local News