MONTREAL – Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay has unveiled the city’s 2013 operating budget, answering questions as to how big a hit municipal taxpayers will take next year.
“Our administration is continuing to address the challenges that make a difference in the daily life of citizens, all the while respecting the taxpayers’ capacity to pay,” Tremblay said.
He added that the city is making economic development and renovations to infrastructure priorities.
Property taxes in Montreal will climb past the rate of inflation – by an average of 3.3 per cent in 2013 – as the city boosts spending on police and firefighting, while repairing crumbling roads and leaky pipes.
Total spending will increase by 2.7 per cent to a total of $4.9 billion.
The city will invest $136 million in maintaining and repairing Montreal’s 5,000-kilometre grid of roads and sidewalks – up by $6 million or 4.6 per cent.
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Despite the hike in property taxes, Mayor Gérald Tremblay insisted that his 12th annual budget will not hurt the pocketbooks of Montrealers.
The average tax bill – based on a single-family dwelling evaluated at $347,000 – will go up by $107 to a total of $3,400, according to the city.
Follow Global News’ reporter Tim Sargeant for details on the 2013 Budget.
Budget highlights include:
• Funding Montreal’s police department will increase by 3.8 per cent to a total of $681 million.
• Spending on firefighting will jump by 6.4 per cent to $348 million.
• The city’s contribution to the public transit authority, the Société de transport de Montréal, will inch up by 2.5 per cent to a total of $401 million. What’s more, the city will make a $54-million contribution to the Agence métropolitaine de transport, up by $3 million.
• The budget for water treatment and delivery will soar by 9 per cent to $411 million, largely to finance the repairs to kilometres of rusting underground pipes.
• Snow removal will cost taxpayers $158 million, up by 2.9 per cent. Spending on garbage collection and recycling remains unchanged at $177 million.
• The city will spend $23 million on social housing and an equal amount in home-renovation grants.
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