Oakville releases 2015 Budget documents

Thu, 19 Feb 2015

Staff recommends 1.53 per cent overall tax increase

Today, town staff presented Oakville’s proposed 2015 operating and capital budgets to the Budget Committee achieving Council's direction to keep the total property tax increase in line with inflation. Town staff recommended a 2.35 per cent increase to the town’s portion of the tax bill for an overall property tax increase of 1.53 per cent including the approved region increase and estimated education tax rates. The proposed increase would see residential property taxes increase by $13.35 per $100,000 of assessment meaning that a home assessed at $400,000 would pay an additional $53.40 per year or $1.03 per week.

“The recommended budget is about responsible management of taxpayer dollars,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “Our goal is to offer valued programs to the community, make strategic investments in infrastructure, while keeping property taxes in line with inflation. This proposed budget delivers on that promise.”

Staff is recommending a $459.1 million combined budget for operating and capital requirements to provide over 60 wide ranging programs and services including winter road maintenance, parks and trails, harbours, transit, emergency services, recreation and culture, senior services, libraries, and to keep the town’s 1,900 kilometres of roads and 1.9 million square feet of community facilities in a state of good repair.

According to the budget presentation from town Deputy Treasurer and Director of Financial Planning Nancy Sully, the 2.35 per cent increase to the town’s portion of the tax bill includes a 1.19 per cent increase for the costs of providing town programs and services, and a 1.16 per cent increase in funding for infrastructure renewal. When the town’s portion of the tax bill is combined with the estimated regional and education tax levy, it results in the proposed 1.53 per cent increase on the property tax bill.

The town’s capital budget provides funds for both the replacement of aging infrastructure and the construction of new infrastructure. Key capital projects for 2015 going forward for approval include: $7.1 million for road resurfacing and preservation; $5.3 million for reconstruction of Sixth Line north of Dundas Street; $3.9 million for the town’s Emerald Ash Borer Management Program; $2.9 million for the replacement of old Oakville Transit buses; $2 million for improvements to portions of the North Service Road; $1.8 million for Bronte Harbour dredging; $1.8 million for improvements to Speers Road; $1.7 million for west shore landscape rehabilitation at Sixteen Mile Creek; $1.7 million to replace aging roads and works equipment, and $975,000 for the design and preliminary work towards the rehabilitation of Oakville Arena.

“This recommended budget keeps the total property tax increase in line with inflation while delivering long-term sustainability of our infrastructure, our facilities, as well as our outstanding programs and services,” said Budget Committee Chair Councillor Tom Adams. “I encourage residents to review the budget documents and provide feedback over the coming weeks. These are your tax dollars at work.”

With the budget process now underway, the Budget Committee will be holding both formal and informal public consultation meetings before the budget is brought forward to Council for approval on March 30.
The public is encouraged to get involved in the process through the following opportunities:

• Budget Open House on Wednesday, February 25 at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre from 7 to 8 p.m.
• Budget Open House on Tuesday, March 3 at Iroquois Ridge Community Centre from 7 to 8 p.m.
• Commission presentations at Budget Committee meeting on March 5 at 9:30 a.m. and March 9 at 9:30 a.m., if required
• Public delegations presented at Budget Committee meeting on March 11 at 9:30 a .m. and 7 p.m.
• Budget Committee deliberations on March 23 at 9:30 a.m.
• Final Budget approval by Town Council on March 30 at 7 p.m.