Ottawa homeowners
can expect to see a three per cent increase on the municipal
portion of their property tax bill this year after city
council passed the 2019 operating and capital budgets on
Wednesday.
The three per
cent increase equates to an additional $113 for the average
home with a market value assessment of $404,000. Rural ratepayers
can expect to pay an additional $93.
A third of the
increase, or one per cent, will generate $10 million a year
which will be used to pay for infrastructure maintenance
and renewal. The rest will be used to cover additional costs
due to growth and salary increases.
Besides the tax
increases, Ottawa residents will also see a 2.5 per cent
increase in OC Transpo fares, recreation and other user
fees, licenses and permits. Water and sewer bills will also
go up this year. The water portion will increase by four
per cent, the sewer portion will go up five per cent and
the stormwater portion will increase by 9.8 per cent.
Among
the highlights of the 2019 budget are...
- $1.6 million
committed to the Temporary Traffic Calming Measure Program,
with each Councillor receiving $50,000 for initiatives in
their respective wards
- Providing funding
for 32 new police officers to support crime prevention,
community policing and traffic safety
- Funding for
arts, heritage and festival organizations will increase
by $250,000, increasing the total annual funding to $12.4
million
- Maintaining
$26 million in funding to local agencies to fund housing
and homelessness supports and services to residents
- Sundays, in
addition to Wednesday, will be "no fee� days for seniors
on transit
(This story
was made possible thanks to the generous support of our
local business partners.)
KARAOKE NIGHT from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle way in the Taylor Creek Business Park.. Come as you are, sing what you love, and have a blast. Take your talent out of the shower or car, and bring it to our stage. Every voice belongs here. Judgement free.
GREATER ORLEANS GARAGE SALE from 8 a.m. across all Orléans. Download interactive map showing participating locations at 
GIVEAWAY WEEKEND – Treasure hunters, get ready! Giveaway Weekend is back in Ottawa. Place your gently used, unwanted items at the curb and let someone else give them a second life. Then, explore what your neighbours have put out because their trash may be your treasure!
THE GLOUCESTER COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND presents "Melodies in Motion" from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges, 1999 Provence Ave. Admission is free with the donation of a non-perishable food item to the Orléans-Cumberland food bank.
TRIVIA NIGHT from 7:30 p.m. every Monday night at the Royal Oak Pub Orléans. Free to play. Prizes for the winning team! The Royal Oak Pub is located at 1981 St. Joseph Blvd. near Jeanne d'Arc. For more info visit 
