North Bay Mayor Al McDonald believes it’s possible to use the findings of a digital publication to attract more people and businesses to the community.
McDonald was reacting to the rankings from MoneySense that place North Bay as the seventh best place to live nationally based on low property taxes.
The top spot in the MoneySense rankings went to West Nipissing.
Like North Bay, West Nipissing Mayor Joanne Savage says she believes the results can be used as a marketing tool to promote the municipality.
McDonald isn’t surprised by the ranking.
He says for the last six years taxes have risen 1.5 per cent per year in the community.
He says compare that to many other communities which have seen increases of 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent and even more in some instances.
McDonald says East Ferris for example increased taxes by 9 per cent this year.
Last year the tax increase was 11 per cent and it was 9 per cent in 2016.
Over the past five years, McDonald says Callander’s taxes have risen about 4 per cent a year.
McDonald says across Northern Ontario, North Bay has the fourth lowest residential taxes as well as the lowest commercial and industrial taxes.
The Mayor hopes that organizations like the North Bay Chamber of Commerce and Tourism North Bay can use the findings and promote the city as a great place to live and work.
Two other northern communities had top rankings in the report; Elliot Lake was second and Timiskaming Shores captured the eighth spot.
(With files from Rocco Frangione)