The cost of living in Ottawa is going up.
The city unveiled its 2015 draft budget. It calls for a 2% hike in residential property taxes. That translates to around $67 for the average homeowner.
It also requires no significant service cuts to achieve.
Water and sewer rates are also going up by 6% or $48 on average.
OC Transpo plans to increase fares by 2.5%. A cash fare will increase 10 cents to $3.55 per trip.
And for the first time in four years, the city is looking to increase recreational fees and rentals by up to 2%.
“This continues the multi-year trend of keeping life affordable, and translates into a 2% average increase for a residential property,” says Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson. “This rate will allow us to continue to invest in key priorities such as transportation, affordable housing, and community facilities.”
Other highlights of the budget include $400,000 alotted for a new exit strategy for gang members and at-risk youth, increased funding of $3.1 million for Ottawa Community Housing maintenance, and an increase of $125,000 toward replanting trees in areas ravaged by the Emerald Ash Borer.
The draft budget will be subject to public consultations before the final version is submitted to Council on March 11th.
