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.)
SING-ALONG
WITH THE F.R.O.G.s (Fully Rely On God) at St. Mary’s Church
Hall, 1171 Smith Rd. in Navan. Enjoy some much loved favourites
as well as some Christian music followed by a selection
of sumptuous soups and baked breads. Tickets $15. Call 613-841-6248.
OPERA
CANDY presents The Gourmet Adventures of Hansel and Gretel
in the Richcraft Theatre at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Showtime
3 p.m. This delectable introduction to opera and lyrical
singing is a treat for the eyes and ears! Tickets $20 for
adults, $15 for children, and family of four $16 per person.
A special workshop will be held before the show from 1:30
p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Come before the show to meet the artists
and immerse yourself in a world of vocal experiences. You
can even learn a tune and choreography so that you can sing
and dance like Hansel and Gretel. Cost $15. Visit www.shenkmanarts.ca.
FRIENDS
& FAMILY NIGHT hosted by the Bytown Beat Chorus. Come see
what the Chrous is all about and enjoy some live entertainment
from guest quartet “Key Rings” and the Ottawa Puppet Troupe
at the Orléans United Church, 1111 Orléans Blvd. starting
at 8 p.m. RSVP a member if you plan to attend.
120TH
ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE at J.T. Bradley’s Country Convenience
Store in Navan from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Join us for coffee and
cake. and live entertainment. to celebrate our 120th burthday
in the lead up to this year’s Bradley Cup hockey tournament
on March 30.
