AVERAGE URBAN HOMEOWNER WOULD PAY $113 MORE UNDER PROPOSED 2019 CITY OF OTTAWA BUDGET

The City of Ottawa’s proposed 2019 budget recommends that property taxpayers increase many of their contributions to municipal coffers this year.

Based on city calculations, the average urban homeowner — living on a property with an assessed value of $404,000 — would pay $113 more this year in property taxes, while the average rural property taxpayer and average commercial property taxpayer would pay $93 and $238 more, respectively.

The city capped its property tax increase at three per cent in the draft budget.

The transit tax portion of the bill was proposed to increase by 3.5 per cent, while the policing, library, public health and city services portions would all go up by three per cent.

The garbage collection fee on the average residential property tax bill would go up to $88 from $86.

The draft budget sees the city planning to spend $3.6 billion for 2019. It will cost $79.4 million more for the city just to maintain its level of services.

The largest portions of the city budget will go toward funding community and social services, transit, and water, sewer and solid waste services.

The net number of full-time-equivalent staff added to the corporation would equal 21.26.

Under the draft budget, anyone whose property is connected to city water and sewer services would also be expected to shell out more money in 2019 — specifically, 3.3 per cent more for drinking water and 4.2 per cent more for waste water services.

All landowners in Ottawa pay a stormwater management fee, which would go up 10.8 per cent.

Transit fares are expected to increase 2.5 per cent on July 1. An adult monthly pass would cost $3 more, while an adult single fare would cost 10 cents more.

The city also wants to expand its no-fee day for seniors to include Sundays in addition to Wednesdays.

Across Ottawa, residents can expect to see small increases in the cost of using a variety of city resources and programs, from arena rentals and day camps to pet registration.

But all departments have time to sharpen their pencils and find savings.

The budget will be sent to committees and boards over the next month so they can scrutinize the spending plans for their departments. Any proposed changes will be sent to council for consideration.

Council will vote on all city-funded budgets March 6.