As the saying, goes there are only two things in life that are unavoidable, death and taxes. The latter just went up another three per cent after City Council unanimously passed the 2020 budget on Dec. 11 with a three per cent hike.

The increase equates to an additional $109 for the average urban home with a Market Value Assessment (MVA) of $350,000.Homes with a higher MVA will pay more and those with a lower MVA will pay less. Rural homeowners will see their property tax bill go up by an extra $77.

The property tax increase does not include an additional three per cent on municipal water and sewer bills.

On a positive note, a 2.5 per cent increase in transit fares that supposed to come into effect on Jan. 1, has been postponed for three months while the OC Transpo continues to work on issues relating to the launch of LRT.

One per cent of the three per cent tax hike will go towards infrastructure renewal. The rest of the tax hike will cover increases costs due to growth.

Next year’s budget includes an extra $15 million for affordable housing; a $7.5 million boost to improve bus service; and a $5.6 million increase in the winter maintenance budget. Thirty more police officers will be hired in 2020, along with 14 more paramedics.

The City’s arts, heritage and cultural organ-izations will receive a $255,000 boost in funding in 2020, bringing their total combined budget to $16.7 million.

The budget also allocates $100,000 per ward, to be used at the discretion of the local councillor, to enhance recreation or park facilities in their ward. Another $50,000 per ward can be used at the discretion of the councillor for traffic calming measures.

Locally, $1.5 million will be used to resurface roads in Orléans Ward including Fortune Drive between Jeanne d’Arc Blvd. and Ste. Agathe Park and the eastbound lanes of Hwy. 174 between Blair and Trim. As well...

- $1.8 million will be spent to improve the parking lot and replace the roof at the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex;

- $7,500 will be used to purchase a play structure at Trillium Elementary School; - $750,000 will be used to retrofit the skate park at Bob MacQuarrie and $100,000 will pay for a climbing wall at the Recreation Complex;

- $450,000 has been allocated to implement intersection improvements at Portobello and Valin;

- $400,000 will go towards upgrading the elevator and purchasing new equipment at the Navan Arena;

- $205,000 will be used to replace roofs on Cumberland Heritage Museum buildings, including the Community Hall, French Hill School and the Train Station.

- and an undisclosed amount of money will be used to implement traffic calming measures along Provence Ave.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)