City councillors signal approval for Algoma Public Health, Social Services budgets

In a straw poll taken late this afternoon by Mayor Christian Provenzano, Sault Ste. Marie city councillors have indicated approval of budgets presented by Algoma Public Health and District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board.

The city police budget is another matter.

As SooToday reported last night, councillors asked yesterday for clarification on how repairs to police headquarters are being financed, and also why a levy increase is being used to add junior officers to replace senior officers who are retiring.

Council had asked that those clarifications be ready for today's budget meeting, but Mayor Provenzano said more time is needed.

The final decision on local and levy boards will be made at City Council's Jan. 10 meeting, the mayor said.

Council is meeting now under relaxed rules of a committee-of-the-whole gathering.

A formal decision can't be made under those rules but the mayor asked, successfully, for a straw poll indicating approval for the Social Services and Algoma Public Health budgets.