It looks like North Bay City Council will be renewing the employee group benefits program the city has with Manulife Financial.

It calls for an increase of 6.4 % or $191,000.

Last week, a council committee approved the recommendation.

Councillor Derek Shogren says there was a long discussion at the committee meeting considering the size of the increase.

“You saw a lot of questions from council asking about whether the increase is necessary,” he said.

Shogren says other municipalities are paying more even some councillors are concerned about the size of the increase.

“It’s tough to feel fortunate that we’re only at 6 % but it looks like the norm is 7-10 % but that’s one of the reasons municipalities all over Ontario are struggling right now,” he says.

The original proposal called for a 19 % increase which would have worked out to $570,000 but the city consultant was able to whittle the hike down.

Council still has the final say.

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