City of Ottawa expecting to end 2024 with a budget surplus
The City of Ottawa posted a $10.4 million surplus in the first six months of the year, thanks to staffing vacancies, higher water consumption by residents and lower winter maintenance costs.
A report for the finance and corporate services committee on the city's finances for this year shows the city is projecting a $5.8 million surplus in tax-supported programs by the end of 2024. The projected surplus does not include the Ottawa Police Services Board and the Ottawa Public Library, or the OC Transpo budget, which is projecting a $25.6 million deficit this year due to lower ridership on buses and the O-Train.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Staff say the city posted a $7.8 million surplus in the tax-supported program areas in the January to June period, and a $2.6 million surplus in the water and wastewater services department.
"The tax-supported component of the city's budget ended Q2 with a surplus mainly due to staffing vacancy savings and investment income growth due to higher interest rates," the report says.
The Public Works department posted the largest deficit of all departments at Ottawa City Hall in the first six months of the year at $4.2 million. Staff say the deficit is "mainly driven" by Traffic Services and a $5.7 million shortfall due to the delayed installation of five photo radar cameras, the delayed implementation of an Ottawa Processing Centre for camera-based tickets and an increased compliance with speed limits.
Road Services is forecasting a $400,000 surplus due to lower expenditures in winter maintenance because of the "milder first half of the 2024 winter season. The first-quarter financial report in May showed Road Services posted a $4.8 million surplus in the January-March period due to lower winter maintenance on roads, sidewalks and pathways.
Ottawa's Planning, Development and Building Services department posted a $3.25 million deficit in the first six months of the year due to lower volumes in Planning Applications and Building Permits, according to staff.
Savings were found through strategic initiatives due to vacancies and savings on purchased services, an increase in investment income and growth in tax and water billing fees.
The report shows the city is projecting a $5.8 million surplus by the end of 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bloc MPs will vote confidence in Liberal government next week: Blanchet
The Conservatives' first shot at toppling the Liberal government is likely doomed to fail, after Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet told reporters his MPs will vote confidence in the government.
Federal government to further limit number of international students
The federal government will be further limiting the number of international students permitted to enter Canada next year. It's the government's latest immigration-related measure to address Canadians' ongoing housing and affordability concerns.
Exploding electronic devices kill 20, wound 450 in second day of explosions in Lebanon
Lebanon's health ministry said Wednesday that at least 20 people were killed and 450 others wounded by exploding electronic devices in multiple regions of the country. The explosions came a day after an apparent Israeli attack targeting pagers used by Hezbollah killed at least 12 and wounded nearly 3,000.
Here's why you should get all your vaccines as soon as possible
With all these shots, some Canadians may have questions about the benefit of each vaccine, whether they should get every shot and how often to get them, and if it's safe to get them all at once or if they should space them out.
'I'm here for the Porsche': Video shows brazen car theft in Mississauga
Video of a brazen daylight auto theft which shows a suspect running over a victim in a stolen luxury SUV has been released by police west of Toronto.
Search for suspect in Kentucky highway shooting ends with discovery of body believed to be his
Authorities say they believe the body of a man suspected of shooting and wounding five people on a Kentucky interstate highway has been found.
First-of-its-kind facility hopes to launch Canada into rare earths market
A Saskatchewan organization is breaking ground as the first to commercially produce rare earth metals in North America.
Jeremy Dutcher makes Canadian music history
Jeremy Dutcher made Canadian music history Tuesday night by winning a second Polaris Music Prize for his second album, Motewolonuwok.
Teen faces new charge in Sask. high school arson attack
A 14-year-old student who allegedly set her classmate on fire is facing a new charge.