Imagine the City's budget as your family's spending plan. Just like you budget to decide how to spend your money at home, the City decides how to use its funds to provide services that make our daily lives better.
- It includes operating expenses—these are day-to-day costs for utilities, groceries, gas and other transportation costs, personal services, etc.; for the City this also means things like utilities and fuel as well as the salaries of staff that provide City services.
- It also covers capital expenses – these are longer-term investments like a renovation or purchasing a new major appliance; for the City, think large projects and permanent fixtures like rebuilding the Conservatory, installing new storm or sanitary sewers or buying a new fire truck.
Every time you see a police car on duty, when your garbage is picked up, when the snow is cleared from your street, or when you visit a library, you're seeing your tax dollars in action. It's like paying for your home's utilities, groceries, or a streaming subscription—essential services that make life easier and more enjoyable.
As a single-tier municipality, Thunder Bay is unique because we are responsible for managing many services that other cities in Ontario are not. This includes everything from policing to public transit to water management, which adds extra pressure to the budget. Each year, in order to figure out the best way to spend our money, we have to look at all the services we provide, how much they cost, and how they're paid for.
We aim to offer a mix of services that make Thunder Bay a great place to live, work, and play today, and for generations to come.
Breaking Down the Budget
The money for these services comes from two main types of budgets: the Rate-Supported Budget and the Tax-Supported Budget.
The Tax-Supported Budget is the portion of the City’s budget funded through property taxes. It funds a variety of services that contribute to the health, safety and quality of life in the City of Thunder Bay such as: Roads, Parks and Open Spaces, Emergency Services (Thunder Bay Police, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue, Superior North Emergency Medical Service), Recreation and Culture, Planning Services, Pioneer Ridge, Long Term Care and Senior Services and more.
| How is every $1000 in property taxes spent? (click to expand) |
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Fire Rescue - $145 Skilled fire suppression, emergency and rescue services delivered from eight stations. Superior North Emergency Medical Services (SNEMS) - $51 Responsive, professional ambulance and emergency care provided in Thunder Bay and across the district. Long-Term Care - $22 Quality long-term care with 150 beds, programs, and nursing services. Public Works - $77 Maintenance of roads, bridges, sidewalks (including snow removal, sanding and salting) drainage systems, traffic signals and streetlights. Solid Waste & Recycling - $32 Garbage and recycling collection, landfill management, and waste diversion programs. Parks - $36 Endless opportunities for fun and relaxation in one of the 129 active parks or on the 55km of paved recreational trails. Transit - $56 Safe, affordable, and accessible transportation options, provided through conventional transit and Lift+ service. Child Care - $4 Operation of four child-care centres fostering safety, growth, and well-being. Recreation & Culture - $53 Welcoming facilities, exciting events and inclusive programs for residents. Growth & Development - $25 Community planning, building inspections and permitting, and enhanced investment in growing the municipal tax base. Debt Servicing - $37 Interest and principal payments on outstanding municipal debt. General Government - $115 Essential corporate services including finance, legal and realty, as well as support for the City Manager, the Mayor and Members of Council. Thunder Bay District Social Services Board -(TBDSSAB) - $68 Essential social services like housing & homelessness, childcare and delivery of Ontario Works throughout the district. Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) - $11 Public health services, disease prevention, health education and evidence-based care for 153,000 residents in the district. Lakehead Regional Conservation Authority (LRCA) - $6 Ten well-maintained conservation areas offering outdoor recreation opportunities, and regulation of development in areas prone to flooding and erosion. Other Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABCs) - $2 Vibrant local shopping areas, community events, and an improved quality of life in local Business Improvement Areas Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) - $12 Investment attraction, local business growth, tourism industry support and robust marketing aimed at drawing both visitors and new talent to the city. Libraries - $27 Four neighbourhood branches offering books, programs, resources and meeting spaces to inspire learning, creativity, and community connection. Police Services - $221 Safety and community well-being through crime prevention, law enforcement, victim support, public order maintenance, and emergency response. |
For every $1000 in property tax paid, residents receive….The portion of the City’s budget that is fully funded by fees that are only applied to the users of the service is referred to as the rate-supported budget. These rates are separate from the property tax bills. The rate supported budget includes Waterworks, Wastewater, Solid Waste (Landfill), and Prince Arthur’s Landing – Boater Services.
Building a Better City
Capital construction projects are major investments that improve and expand our city's infrastructure. These projects range from upgrading roads and bridges to constructing new community centres and enhancing public parks. Think of these as the major renovations or additions you might undertake in your home to improve its value and functionality, except on a much larger scale.
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