Ottawa taxpayers facing at least a 2.9 per cent tax hike in 2025, but transit funding questions remain
CTV
Ottawa residents are facing at least a 2.9 per cent property tax hike in 2025, but questions remain about how the city will fill a $120 million hole in the transit budget.
Ottawa residents are facing at least a 2.9 per cent property tax hike in 2025, but questions remain about how the city will fill a $120 million hole in the transit budget.
The finance and corporate services committee approved the budget directions to draft the 2025 City of Ottawa budget on Monday by a vote of 9-3. Councillors Shawn Menard, Rawlson King and Jeff Leiper voted against the budget directions.
"I have more of a problem with the political priorities here. Right now, I have trouble getting community centres funded," Menard said. "We're struggling on things like bathrooms in parks, we can't keep them open on the infrastructure side. Splash pad closures, pools, sidewalk repairs – we're having a lot of issues keeping up with basic services and so I have a lot of trouble with the across the board 2.9 per cent approach."
Under the proposed budget directions, staff will draft a budget with a 2.9 per cent property tax increase to cover "most areas of city operations," but it doesn't include an increase in the levy or fares to cover the shortfall in the OC Transpo budget.
A 2.9 per cent property tax hike, with a transit levy increase of at least 2.9 per cent, would add $125 to the average urban property tax bill. A 2.9 per cent tax hike would cost the average commercial property owner an additional $268.
Several councillors raised concerns with how the city is drafting the 2025 budget by setting a 2.9 per cent tax increase before the process begins.
"Arbitrary is an appropriate word," Coun. Jessica Bradley said. "I think that these budget directions are a bit weak and not entirely reflective of our priorities as a city and absent of a real number."
