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.)
BLACKBURN FUN FAIR next to the Lois Kemp Arena in Blackburn Hamlet with activities for the whole family include a free concert by SOS: The ABBA Experience on Saturday, June 6 at 9 p.m. on the man stage. Fun Fair parade down Bearbrook Road starting at 10 a.m. on June 6. For more information visit 
CUMBERLAND BLOCK PARTY from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Cameron Street in Cumberland Village. BBQ by Meatings BBQ. Ice Cream and desserts from Black Walnut Bakery. Wood-fired pizza by Firebox Pizza. Live music.
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 
TRIVIA NIGHT from 6:30 p.m. at the Stray Dog Brewing Company. Exercise your grey matter before it turns to mush over the holidays. Reservations are a must to secure your spot. Send your team name and number of people to info@straydogbrewing.ca. The Stray Dog Brewing Company is located at 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park.
