The City of Guelph has some big spending plans for 2018, but it could mean the taxpayers will be digging deeper into their pockets with a 4.84 per cent tax levy increase possibly on the way.
The total staff recommended 2018 operating budget is pegged at over $232 million which represents a 2.19 per cent increase from 2017.
But there’s more.
READ MORE: Guelph Hydro begins merger talks with Alectra
Staff is asking council to consider expanding certain departments at a cost of $3.1 million, or a 1.4 per cent increase.
Some of the more costly expansions include multi-residential and yard waste collection at $982,700, additional paramedic shifts in Guelph at $399,200 and implementing an affordable housing financial incentives program at a cost of $322,900.
Council will also consider another one per cent increase to the dedicated infrastructure levy on top of the one per cent that was approved in last year’s budget.
In the report going to council, staff said year one of the levy was a success, but still short of the level required to close the deficit and reduce the infrastructure backlog.
The report said if council continued to approve additional one per cent tax levies for the next nine years they could eliminate the backlog by 2053.
“This issue has been accumulating since the city’s first infrastructure was ever built over 150 years ago and for this reason, 36 years to close the gap and clean up the backlog is not an unreasonable time frame,” the report read.
READ MORE: City council approves new home for Guelph Humane Society
As part of the non-tax supported budget and capital budget, which will be put a vote at council next Thursday, staff is also recommending a hike to Guelph’s water rates which would see the average homeowner pay an extra $23 next year.
Council will present the operating budget on Nov. 8, which will be followed by delegations before a vote on Dec. 5.
Comments