Ottawa Council tabled a draft budget that proposes higher bus fares, property tax and new red light cameras.
The budget is projected to be balanced, says Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.
Some highlights of the budget include:
The Mayor's promised 2% tax increase which equals around $72 / year more for the average urban homeowner.
A 6% increase in water and sewer rates, or around $49 for the average household.
A 2.85% increase in the transit levy of your property bill, or around $17 more. ($5 for rural residents.)
No change in the garbabe fee for 2016 at $82 / year.
Transit fares are also pegged to go up another 2.5%.
Some user fees will go up an average of 2%.
Motorists might want to take note:
More red light cameras will be installed and monitored. 5 more each year for the next 4 years. Red light cameras caught more than 17,000 cars in 2014.
Each City ward will receive $40 thousand to install traffic calming measures.
The Ottawa Police Service will receive 25 more officers.
On the bright side, and just in time for winter, the budget includes a 10% increase in grants dedicated to the City's 230 outdoor ice rinks - the first increase to the program in 10 years.
Join the conversation
Ottawa Council tabled a draft budget that proposes higher bus fares, property tax and new red light cameras.
Posted by CTV Ottawa on Thursday, November 12, 2015
