Ottawa city council passed the final operat-ing and capital budgets for 2025 last week, which included a 3.9 per cent tax increase and a five per cent increase in transit fares for OC Transpo and O-Train users.

More than one quarter of the tax increase, or one per cent, is accounted for as a direct result of an eight per cent hike in the transit levy.

For the owner of an average home with a market value assessment of $415,000, a 3.9 per cent tax increase will equate to an additional $168 on the municipal portion of property tax bill. The amount could be higher or lower depending on the market value assessment of your home. Keep in mind that your tax bill also includes a school board levy which is set by the province.

In practical terms, the five per cent increase in transit fares will see an adult monthly pass jump from $128.75 to $135. Passes for youth age 13-17 will increase from $99.25 to $104.

One proposed change to transit fares was ultimately rejected by city council. Thanks to a motion put forward by Beacon Hill-Cyrville councillor Tim Tierney, OC Transpo passes for seniors will remain at $49 until Feb. 1 when they will rise to $58.25. The City had been considering a 120 per cent increase. User fees and facility rentals will also go up by five per cent in the new year.

The 2025 capital budget includes funding for a number of projects in the east end.

In Orléans East-Cumberland a number of roads will be resurfaced including Taylor Creek Drive, Mathieu Way in Fallingbrook, and Cameron Street in Cumberland Village where the signalization at the intersection of Cameron and Hwy. 174 will also be improved.

Funding has also been approved for improvements to the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum and the Ray Friel Recrea-tion Complex, as well as a new pathway at the Apollo Crater Park in Fallingbrook and a speed enforcement camera on Valin Street.

Elsewhere in the east end, residents in Orléans South-Navan will see the following in 2025:
• $4 million for the detailed design of the Brian Coburn Extension/Renaud Road realignment.
• $8.1 million in funding for Transit Priority and High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on Innes Road.
• $575,000 for the renewal of the township bridge on Wilhaven Road.
• Funding for a roundabout at Navan and Milton Roads.
• New signals at Innes/Lamarche and advance design work for the Mer Bleue/Copperhead/Decoeur intersection.

Meanwhile, residents in Orléans West-Innes Ward can expect the following in 2025:
• $1.8 million for improvements to the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex;
• $175,000 for an accessible washroom in the Orléans Library;
• $26,000 for replacement of the Bearbrook Park pool washroom;
• Funding for rink pad renewals at both Bearbrook Park and Barrington Park;
• Replacement of the play equipment at the south end of Father Richard Ward Park;
• Replacement of the outdoor rink boards, and renewal of the asphalt rink pad at Jeanne d’Arc Park;
• Road renewal on Northpark Road from Bearbrook to Ridgeburn Gate); Notre Dame Street from St. Joseph to Orléans Blvd.; Gaultois Avenue from Boyer to Notre Dame; Loire Drive from Boyer to Gaultois; Richer Drive from Notre Dame to Leblanc; Cholette Circle from Dusserre East to Dusserre West; and Dusserre Street from St. Joseph to Cholette.