Pandemic projected to cost city $2.4M in revenues – Timmins Press

Council received an update on the impact of COVID-19 on the City of Timmins bottom line during Tuesdays meeting.

The potential impact on revenue is projected to be about $2.4 million ($2,423,000), while the impact on expenses is an additional almost $650,000 ($649,000), said Dave Landers, the citys chief administrative officer.

And the potential impact on agencies, boards and commissions is nearly $1.7 million ($1,699,000).

Landers pointed out the report looks at a period running from give or take March 17 to June 30.

A report will follow from Finance in June that will look forward based on activity we can cut, defer or move forward in a way that will consider the current financial situation, he said.

That being said, there is some positive information to report.

Landers noted even though the Building and Planning department was not able to move forward with some of the applications and permits it had received electronically, with the construction ban now lifted permits with an additional $ 1.2 million of value have been realized as of the end of March in comparison to the same point last year.

Financial services can report, as well, we have received about $58,000 in summer student funding for essential student positions, he said.

The CAO also had some good news to report in terms of property tax collection.

Right now, we are not experiencing a significant tax collection shortfall, Landers said.

At this point in time, we are tracking along the same lines as last year, for both water billing and property taxes.

As the year goes on, that situation may very well change but as it currently stands, we are in good position, particularly from a cash-flow basis.

According to the report, by the end of April the city collected 42.63% of its budgeted tax levy, compared to 42.53% in 2019, which amounts to $85,214 more collected than in the prior year.

In terms of water billing, at the end of April the city had collected 37.68% of its budgeted revenues, compared to 38.25% in 2019, resulting in a $124,180 decrease from the previous year.

The City of Timmins has continued to work closely with the (Timmins) Chamber of Commerce and others through a (Business) Continuity and Recovery Task Force, which we are co-chairing, Landers said.

A number of different community agencies involved in that group, as we try to plan for impacts to the business community. The (Downtown Timmins) BIA participates, Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) is at the table, The Venture Centre, our MP (Charlie Angus) and our MPP (Gilles Bisson) also participate, so we are able to get information carried back.

At this point in time, an additional business survey is going forward as we try to track the impact of whats happening on the business community.

So far, there are a few areas of focus the group is working on. We are looking at evaluating and making some recommendations to government on the programs that have been rolled out.

We do know, from the business community, there has been a wide uptake of the programs that have been announced some of them quite effectively.

Some of them, I think we could recommend some positive changes, particularly things like commercial rent.

Also, as a group, we are trying to turn our heads toward business modernization and customer service in a post-pandemic world, how we support the business community as it moves forward into I guess what we can consider uncharted waters.

Landers noted they are also looking at business support in terms of health and safety and activities that might stimulate the citys urban core.

At the same time, as you are aware, there has been work updating our Community Improvement Plan, he said.

We are at the state where a couple of drafts have been completed. At this point, it is going out for stakeholder comment.

We are looking to receive information from the public and stakeholders on how to improve that Community Improvement Plan.

Landers also noted moving forward the city is looking from a health and safety perspective on how to get back to normal, or what normal will look like as it moves through the restart of Stage 1, Stage 2 and onward.

At this point in time, I think there are a couple of things we need to consider from a city point of view, he said.

There have been a number of announcements that have come from other (federal and provincial) levels of government to support individuals and businesses, but we still really havent seen anything to support municipalities which isnt surprising at this point.

The business of government is focusing on higher risk areas, but from a municipal point of view there are a few areas of advocacy we need to consider.

Specifically, our municipality and others across Ontario are going to need funding to offset revenue losses in airports and transit services, as well as some other areas throughout the municipality.

Additionally, there is going to be a requirement for funding for social and health services due to increased service demands, particularly in areas like long-term care, homelessness and childcare.

Mayor (George) Pirie has taken the lead in calling on governments to look to initiate a specific Northern Ontario Recovery Task Force, as part of a broader provincial task force.

Many of the issues in the North, with our resource-based economies, are distinct from the south.

Those are areas of advocacy I think we need to keep in front of us over the new few months.

Additionally, the report presented to council indicated the CAO is working with TEDC to apply for grant funding for a strategic planning process for an economic diversification strategy to help build resiliency into the economy and plan for future growth.

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Pandemic projected to cost city $2.4M in revenues - Timmins Press