After a marathon meeting lasting more than five hours tonight, Sault Ste. Marie City Council approved a 2017 budget with a 4.34 per cent levy hike.
And the actual increase paid by ratepayers could be higher than that, because the District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board (DSSMSSAB) has yet to finalize its budget and any DSSMSSAB levy increase will also be added to city tax bills.
In recent years, councillors have waited until April to set the municipal budget, but this year they got to work early so the budget changes can be implemented from the beginning of the city's fiscal year, Jan. 1.
The 2017 budget approved tonight contains some significant service cuts.
Additional coverage of the 2017 budget will be posted on SooToday tomorrow morning.