THUNDER BAY – POLITICS – The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce recently put out a document pertaining to the 2018 Municipal Election entitled “Say Yes“.
In the document, the Chamber claims that the Tax Levy increase to the taxpayers of Thunder Bay was 3.36% average year over year for the past 10 years.
The Chamber never fact-checked their numbers.
The average tax levy change in the past eight (8) years is 2.4%.
The graph that is illustrated in their document was what the tax levy increase would have been before Growth was factored in. After Growth was factored in the average tax levy was 2.4% which is responsible considering the increase in infrastructure spending.
Our citizen satisfaction survey also shows that the vast majority approves of the services they receive for the taxes they pay. This is also contrary to what the Chamber is feeding the public.
Our Administration has been very conscientious finding millions of dollars in efficiencies over the past few years, also contrary to what the Chamber is feeding the public.
It is no wonder that some on Council, including myself, wonder why the City of Thunder Bay is a paying member of the Chamber. Perhaps we should look at canceling our membership as a cost-cutting measure. In closing, I would like to invite the Chamber of Commerce to spend more time working with the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) and less time in the political arena.
Mayor Keith Hobbs
