'I'm here to tell you we did it': P6M a success

A gruelling, months-long process to save the city $6 million came to a successful conclusion Tuesday night, as city council approved the final measures to pay for the 2015 tax freeze.

The majority of the savings – $3.9 million – came through attrition, while the rest came from a range of measures, from switching the Capreol Ski Hill to a sliding hill, to using liquid chlorine in city pools.

“I'm here to tell you we did it,” said interim CAO Kevin Fowke, speaking to members of the finance and administration committee.

He congratulated staff for their work on the Project $6 million effort – known as P6M for short. Fowke said more than 800 money-saving ideas came from city staff alone.

He said his favourite idea was the liquid chlorine one, which only saved a relatively small amount of money, but he said it typified the commitment of city employees to P6M.

Mayor Brian Bigger, whose campaign promise to freeze taxes necessitated the P6M process, said the achievement was a milestone for Greater Sudbury, and said more money could be saved next year by exploring ideas that were too complicated to pursue in the short timeframe this year.

Committee chair Mike Jakubo also praised staff, singling out Lorella Hayes, the city's award-winning budget chief, and her staff at finance.

“Your department and yourself have left your mark on the P6M process,” Jakubo said.

Hayes, who is leaving the city to take a job with the GSU, received a round of applause for her work over the last 10 years.

As her husband and daughter watched from the gallery at Tom Davies Square, councillor after councillor praised her work.

They even had the Livestream camera pan over to her seat while she received accolades.

"It is definitely a loss for our community," said Ward 4 Coun. Evelyn Dutrisac. "I'm always thrilled to see a woman taking a career and excelling at it."

In her remarks, Hayes thanked her staff for their work and said the public was fortunate to have so many dedicated and talented people working on their behalf.

“It gives me great pride, when I look back over the last 10 years,” she said. “We're very fortunate to have the city staff that we do have … There's still lots to do, but I'm confident I'm leaving the city in good hands.”

To reach the target, councillors approved a few measures to raise extra revenue. For example, the definition of who is a senior — and therefore qualifies for certain discounts — is now someone aged 65 and older, rather than 55. That's expected to raise $175,000 in revenue.

Another $5,000 will come by allowing fire officials to provide fire and carbon monoxide alarms – for a fee – when an inspection reveals there are none in a home.

Residents will now be required get an open air burning permit, raising another $10,000. People would either buy one for the whole year for $50, renew them for $25, or buy one for a week for $10.

Another $10,000 will come by allowing the fire department to charge a user fee when they're asked by organizers of festivals and other events to be on hand in case of an emergency.

Another plan estimates the department could raise $70,000 by using the services Fire Marque Inc., a company that uses a special program that searches homeowner insurance policies after a fire to see whether they have coverage for municipal firefighting costs.

Under a similar proposal made last year, Fire Marque keeps 30 per cent of what they find, and the city gets the rest. Parking fines are also increasing, although a plan to raise them even higher than the rate of inflation will have to be approved by a regional judge.