Sudbury city councillors and staff did some brainstorming about the city budget Wednesday night in an effort to find ways to cut millions of dollars and keep next year's tax hike around 2 per cent.

But budget chief Terry Kett said the exercise was more than just trimming the fat at city hall. He said the city has to be ready for the economic boom many are projecting for Sudbury in the next few years.

"This is probably the greatest opportunity that we'll ever see in our lifetimes,” Kett said.

Terry Kett, Greater Sudbury city councillor

“The way I look at it … I think this is as important, in terms of history, as when they first discovered nickel. I think it's that significant."

Kett said Greater Sudbury will have to find a way to increase revenue to build new roads and sewer systems in the face of decreasing provincial funding and rising costs.

"$5 billion worth of investment is coming to this city in the next five years,” Kett added. “And those people who are investing are going to want infrastructure — new infrastructure."

Ideas tossed around during the meeting included reviewing the need for city-run day care centres and summer camps, as well as selling the naming rights to city buildings.

During Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk’s state of the city address Thursday, she emphasized the expected boom in mining thanks to a "resource-starved world.”