Councillor Tom Adams appointed chair of 2015 Budget Committee

Tue, 20 Jan 2015

Committee recommends modest increases to 2015 rates and fees

Oakville Budget Committee selected Town and Regional Councillor Tom Adams as the chair of the 2015 Budget Committee today.

This is Councillor Adams’ seventh year as budget chair. He holds an MBA from McMaster University and is a former senior risk manager to one of Canada's major financial institutions.

“I want to congratulate Councillor Adams for being budget chair once again,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “Based on his record, taxpayers can trust him to lead us to another below inflation budget year.”

As its first order of business, the committee recommended modest increases to the town’s 2015 rates and fees to help fund the delivery of programs and services to Oakville residents. The recommended rates and fees will go to Council for approval on January 26, 2015. Some of the rates and fees will come into effect on February 1, while others will start after March 1, 2015.

On average, the proposed rates and fee increases range between two and three per cent. The additional revenue realized from the fee changes totals close to $1.1 million.

The proposed 2015 rates and fees were shared with the public and user groups for feedback beginning December 18, 2014. In response to the feedback, the Budget Committee approved a motion by Councillor Elgar to recommend that student transit fees be frozen. The committee is also requesting that the province provide greater financial support for provincially-mandated accessible transit services.

The Budget Committee also recommended pre-approving capital projects that are scheduled to get underway during the first quarter of this year including funding for the town’s Emerald Ash Borer Management Program, the rehabilitation of Rebecca Street bridge over Sixteen Mile Creek, renovations to pool equipment and fitness change rooms at Iroquois Ridge Community Centre and repairs at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts.

“I look forward to continuing to engage the public in our budget process,” said Councillor Adams. “Our budget will focus on building and maintaining infrastructure, delivering high quality programs and services while keeping overall property tax increases in-line with inflation.”

The proposed 2015 rates and fees can be reviewed on the Rates and Fees page or in person at Town Hall at the ServiceOakville customer service desk. Those wishing to appear as a delegate at Council on January 26, 2015, must register in advance by emailing townclerk@oakville.ca or calling 905-815-6015 by noon on January 26, 2015.

If you would like to attend the meeting and have any accessibility needs, please contact Kathy Patrick at 905-845-6601, ext. 4235 or fill out the accessible online feedback form.

The 2015 budget documents will be released to Council and the public on February 19, 2015. The Budget Committee will hold both formal and informal public consultation meetings before the budget is brought forward to Council for approval on March 30, 2015.

Members of the community are also invited to complete the town’s online Citizen Survey to share your views on the town’s programs and services and priorities for the future.