Montreal mayor unveils his first budget

MONTREAL – Denis Coderre unveiled his first budget as mayor of Montreal on Wednesday.

The proposed 2014 operating budget was tabled at $4.9 billion, up 0.3 per cent from 2013, with any tax increases limited to 2 per cent.

The recently elected mayor had campaigned on a promise to limit tax increases to the inflation rate, currently set at 0.9 per cent in Montreal and 1.2 per cent across Canada.

Property taxes, which currently range between 1.1 per cent and 5.3 per cent depending on the borough, would also rise by an average of 1.9 per cent.

“We are proud to table this budget which limits to 2 per cent the increase of tax charges that are under the responsibility of the city council, as per our commitment,” said Coderre.

“We believe that a public administration must make the appropriate decisions and live according to its means, just as taxpayers must manage their personal finances.”

Salaries and benefits comprise 51 per cent of the budget, with salaries for elected officials taking up 7.6 per cent. Employee salaries are set to increase by 2.2 per cent.

The budget was balanced in part thanks to $98 million in reserves, without this, the budget would have been in deficit due to the fact the city is still spending more than it takes in revenue.

At a glance: 2014 budget
● Average property tax increase of 1.9%
● Operating budget spending increase of about 0.3%
● $5 million earmarked for an anti-collusion and anti-corruption unit under new Inspector General
● Public transit spending up $12.5 million, $2 million more than planned
● AMT budget set at $55.1 million, up by $1.3 million
● $487 million earmarked for Montreal’s cultural, recreational and sports activities, up 4 per cent
● $1 million earmarked to meet the challenges associated with homelessness
● $153.3 million earmarked for snow removal