What The 2017 City Budget Will Cost You And Where Your Money Is Going

By: Nick Liard

A simple breakdown of what the approved city budget means for you, and where your money is going.

Plans for the city in 2017 were approved by councillors at a special meeting last night.

For 2017, operating budget expenditures total $541 million, which, with approved service level changes, amounts to a 3.6 % property tax increase. For a typical home with an assessed value of $230,000, this is equivalent to an increase of approximately $100 over 2016 taxes.

Water rates are also increasing by 7.4%, meaning an average homeowner will be shelling out an extra $75 for the year.

The 2017 capital budget is $222.6 million, reflecting an influx of funding from senior levels of government for roads, transit, water/wastewater and other projects.

Mayor Brian Bigger says this is more than double what the city has invested in previous years.

$133.8 million in construction and repair to build the City’s transportation network, including the First Phase of the Maley Drive Extension, bridge and culvert replacements, and more.

$17 million allocated to winter road maintenance, and the replacements of four snow plows, ensuring service levels are reliably maintained.

Six new, fully accessible Transit buses, reducing the average fleet age to 13 years.

Water and wastewater infrastructure projects to replace aging water and wastewater mains.

A new aerial fire truck, three ambulances and two paramedic response vehicles.

An additional $2 million investment in road work with large spreader laid patches to reduce the re-occurrence of potholes.

A $5 million capital commitment to Place des arts, one of the four large projects endorsed by Council in principle in 2016, conditional on the group meeting specific requirements and securing the remaining funds needed to complete the project.

An extension of the Ramsey Lake Skate Path to the Northern Water Sports Centre to enhance the winter skate path for residents, and allow use of the Northern Water Sports Centre as a winter destination point.