City council has approved a property tax increase of up to three per cent for the 2019 budget, providing nearly $10 million for local needs such as infrastructure improvements.
The newly sworn-in council approved the three per cent increase during Wednesday morning’s council meeting. The levy will provide roughly $9.8 million in funding for roads, sidewalks and other infrastructure development, repairs and maintenance. A memo from the city says the levy would cut in half the time needed to eliminate Ottawa’s current infrastructure funding gap.
Also receiving funding through the potential tax increase are the library, police and public health boards.
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The three per cent increase is in keeping with Mayor Jim Watson’s most recent electoral platform. He pledged to cap annual tax increases between two and three per cent during the 2018 municipal election campaign.
Council will table the draft budget for the coming year in February.
