Budget Consultation 2024

Ahead of the 2024 municipal budget, residents and business owners are invited to participate in the budget process and provide feedback on priorities and key considerations. From November 20 – December 1, residents will be informed on how the budget process works, how tax dollars are used, and the significant value tax dollars bring to the City of Sault Ste. Marie. The input received will assist City Council with their discussions and deliberations.

Your input is important to us! The City’s many services contribute to the safety and vitality of our homes and neighbourhoods, foster business growth and investments and contribute to making Sault Ste. Marie an inclusive and welcoming community. All ideas collected during the consultation process will be considered as part of the 2024 budget development.

Make your voice heard in shaping the 2024 municipal budget by visiting saultstemarie.ca/budget2024. Your participation is important to our shared success.

Choose the top City of Sault Ste. Marie services that are most important to you:

Recreation Facilities and programming (e.g., arenas, sports centres, ball fields, seniors programming etc.)

Arts and Culture

Festivals and events

Parks and outdoor areas

Bike lanes and pathways

Building a green and sustainable community

Roads and sidewalks

Waste management (garbage and recycling)

Public Transit

Fire Services

Police Service

Library Service

Building permits, inspection, and enforcement

Sewers, water, stormwater management

Planning and design of neighbourhoods

Economic opportunities and industrial development

Tourism

Other

Closed to responses

From your perspective and recognizing that not everything is within municipal control, what are the most important concerns currently facing the community?

Cost of living

General infrastructure (roads, sidewalks, water/sewer pipes, buildings, facilities etc.)

Housing/accommodations

Social issues (poverty, mental health, addictions, etc.)

Economy and jobs

Growth, development and sustainability

Crime/criminal activity

Health/Public health issues

Healthcare recruitment

Environment/environmental issues/sustainability

Affordability of property taxes

Access to recreation facilities parks and trails

Governance and transparency of City Council and City operations

Other

Closed to responses

Value for money from property taxes
Every time your street is plowed, your garbage is picked up, you enjoy a day at the park, board a bus or borrow a book from the library, your tax dollars are at work. The choices made in the municipal budget set the funding for the programs and services we depend on to maintain our quality of life.

Thinking about the diverse program offerings and services provided by the city, how would you rate the value for your tax dollars?

Very good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very poor

Unsure/don't know

Closed to responses

Municipal Infrastructure and Asset Management
The enhancement of our infrastructure – be it the roads we travel, the bridges we cross, or the arenas and community centres we visit – need repairs and updates to maintain existing service levels and ensure they align with evolving needs of our community, both now and for years to come.

How important is maintaining existing infrastructure to you?

Important

Somewhat important

Not important

Unsure/don't know

Closed to responses

How important is adding new infrastructure to the community (e.g., busses, twin pad arena)?

Important

Somewhat important

Not important

Unsure/don't know

Closed to responses

Service Delivery
Removing barriers to business and streamlining processes are integral to the overall success of the Corporation.

Overall, are you satisfied with the delivery of services provided by the City of Sault Ste. Marie?

Very satisfied

Somewhat satisfied

Not satisfied

Unsure/don't know

Closed to responses

Quality of Life
How important is it for the City to invest in quality of life (e.g. vibrant downtown areas, arts and culture, environmental sustainability)?

Important

Somewhat important

Not important

Unsure/don't know

Closed to responses

How important is it to you that the City invest in Community Development?

Important

Somewhat important

Not important

Unsure/don't know

Closed to responses

Taxation and Levels of Service
Municipalities in Ontario are not permitted to run a deficit. A delicate balance between service delivery, infrastructure enhancement, and taxation levels requires thoughtful consideration.

Given the rising costs associated with sustaining current service levels and infrastructure, what option would you like Council to consider?

Property taxes change only to maintain current services

Increase property taxes to enhance services

Decrease property taxes by reducing the level of service (e.g. hours or frequency of service)

Increase existing user fees for services that currently have fees

Introduce new user fees for some services that do not currently have fees

Unsure

Closed to responses

Increase/Maintain/Decrease Service Levels
Thinking about the services provided, would you increase, maintain or decrease their service levels?

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Additional Comments
What is the most important issue facing Sault Ste. Marie that you feel should be a priority in the 2024 budget?

Closed for Comments

Please provide any additional comments you feel are important to share with the Mayor and Council as they prepare to deliberate the 2024-2025 Budget.

Closed for Comments

General Information
What level of understanding do you feel you have on how your tax dollars are used within the City budget?

Good understanding

Somewhat understand

Do not understand

Closed to responses

Where do you get information about the City's budget?

CIty website

Local online news portals

City Council meetings

City's social media accounts

Local newspapers

Other

Closed to responses

I am completing the survey as a:

Resident

Business owner

Non-resident

Prefer not to say

Closed to responses

What ward do you live in?

Ward 1 (Sandra Hollingsworth, Sonny Spina)

Ward 2 (Luke Dufour, Lisa Vezeau-Allen)

Ward 3 (Angela Caputo, Ron Zagordo)

Ward 4 (Marchy Bruni, Stephan Kinach)

Ward 5 (Corey Gardi, Matthew Scott)

Closed to responses

Frequently Asked Questions

Who do I contact?

Feedback and ideas can be submitted in a number of ways including:

Watch for posts on the City's social media sites and provide feedback on Facebook and Twitter using handles @CitySSM #saultbudget.
Email questions to budgetinput@cityssm.on.ca
Call the Finance department at 705-759-5350

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Outside Agencies and Levy Boards presentations

November 20, 2023

Levy Boards

Algoma Public Health
Sault Ste. Marie and Region Conservation Authority
Sault Ste. Marie District Social Services Administration Board

Local Boards:

Police Service Board
Public Library Board

Outside Agency Grants:

Algoma University
Art Gallery of Algoma
Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre
Sault Ste. Marie Museum
Soo Arena Association (Pee Wee Arena)
Sault Ste. Marie Crime Stoppers
Entomica

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Preliminary Budget to Council - Operating and Capital User Fees

Budget Meeting of City Council Agenda

November 20, 2023

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Public Consultation

November 20 - December 1

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Budget 2024 Town Hall

November 30, 2023

6 - 8 p.m.

Bay Street Active Living Centre

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Budget Deliberation

December 11 & 12 2023

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Budget Consultation 2024

Budget Consultation 2024

Question title

Choose the top City of Sault Ste. Marie services that are most important to you:

Question title

From your perspective and recognizing that not everything is within municipal control, what are the most important concerns currently facing the community?

Question title

Thinking about the diverse program offerings and services provided by the city, how would you rate the value for your tax dollars?

Question title

How important is maintaining existing infrastructure to you?

Question title

How important is adding new infrastructure to the community (e.g., busses, twin pad arena)?

Question title

Overall, are you satisfied with the delivery of services provided by the City of Sault Ste. Marie?

Question title

Quality of LifeHow important is it for the City to invest in quality of life (e.g. vibrant downtown areas, arts and culture, environmental sustainability)?

Question title

How important is it to you that the City invest in Community Development?

Question title

Given the rising costs associated with sustaining current service levels and infrastructure, what option would you like Council to consider?

Question title

Increase/Maintain/Decrease Service LevelsThinking about the services provided, would you increase, maintain or decrease their service levels?

Question title

Additional CommentsWhat is the most important issue facing Sault Ste. Marie that you feel should be a priority in the 2024 budget?

Question title

Please provide any additional comments you feel are important to share with the Mayor and Council as they prepare to deliberate the 2024-2025 Budget.

Question title

General Information What level of understanding do you feel you have on how your tax dollars are used within the City budget?

Question title

Where do you get information about the City's budget?

Question title

I am completing the survey as a:

Question title

What ward do you live in?

Frequently Asked Questions

Outside Agencies and Levy Boards presentations

Preliminary Budget to Council - Operating and Capital User Fees

Public Consultation

Budget 2024 Town Hall

Budget Deliberation

Quality of Life
How important is it for the City to invest in quality of life (e.g. vibrant downtown areas, arts and culture, environmental sustainability)?

Increase/Maintain/Decrease Service Levels
Thinking about the services provided, would you increase, maintain or decrease their service levels?

Additional Comments
What is the most important issue facing Sault Ste. Marie that you feel should be a priority in the 2024 budget?

General Information
What level of understanding do you feel you have on how your tax dollars are used within the City budget?