The City of Gatineau's 2011 municipal budget contains a number of new measures that will boost property taxes by close to four per cent.
The $463-million budget contains additional funding for a number of existing and new services.
They include:
- $2.4 million to help police fight cybercrime and street gangs
- $1.2 million for bike paths
- $1 million for potholes and graffiti clean-up
- $15 million for snow removal
- $535,000 for a new policy on social development
- $3.9 million in additional funding for public transit (STO)
Mayor Marc Bureau says although property taxes are set to rise 3.9 per cent, most residents will likely face a property tax increase of almost three per cent. That's because of a decrease in the residential waste levy.
In his speech approving the budget, the mayor called the plan a balanced and reasonable approach to city spending.
"This 2.8 per cent average increase for the residential sector is lower than October's 3.3 per cent regional inflation rate. Of this 2.8 per cent, only 1.8 per cent goes to the operating budget: the other 1 per cent will be invested in infrastructures," stated Bureau.
