City seeks allies in OMPF fight

North Bay’s fight for funding from the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund continues, but now the city is looking to recruit other municipalities to join the battle.

Before the beginning of Monday night’s council meeting, Mayor Vic Fedeli announced the city will be contacting 59 cities throughout Ontario to create a coalition of municipalities who have seen a reduction in funds under the OMPF.

“We need to have as many voices as possible speaking the same words,” Fedeli said.

Council believes they have found a solution to the funding problem. A formula, created by Chief Financial Officer Brian Rogers, would have funding return to the structure it had in 2004 under the Community Reinvestment Fund; plus inflation.

“In the next few weeks we will visit many of the communities to create excitement for this solution to our mutual problem,” Fedeli said.

“I may miss the next few meetings, as most councils meet on Monday nights, but it is obvious we can’t win this battle alone.”

This Thursday council hopes to complete their budget deliberations, and will announce a 3.75 per cent tax increase for 2007. However, that increase depends on a $1.6 million grant by the equalization portion of the OMPF.

“We’re down to about 6.75 per cent, but feel we are owed $1.6 million from the province,” Budget Chief Peter Chirico said.

”Our budget is going to be passed and we hope the province will stand up. Otherwise we will be passing supplemental tax bills.”

Funding has been fixed for some municipalities in the past. Over $168 million was added to aid cities such as Chatham Kent and Sudbury. North Bay did not see any of the added money.

“We hear there is no magic wand, yet a wand was waved several times and has fixed the funding shortfalls for many other communities,” Fedeli explained.

Chirico explained the funding is needed to cover the costs of services downloaded from the province, and that is the reason why council has been adamant on the funds being provided.

“It is not fair for us to do our job and make sure our budget is in check, and then have to absorb provincial costs for downloaded services,” Chirico said.

“This is our line in the sand.”