November at City Hall is Budget Month! This past week, the City released the draft of Budget 2022, which lays out the financial priorities for the municipality in the coming year. Budget 2022 also proposes some very important improvements to many of our core city services, while still maintaining an eye on fiscal responsibility, and keeping our city affordable, by capping the overall tax increase at 3 per cent – worth an estimated $56.1 million.
This budget emphasizes the continued need for investment in our City’s infrastructure, including long-overdue investments in our road renewal and resurfacing projects, with total spending on roads increasing from $130.2 million in 2021 to $203.2 million in 2022 – an increase of 56 per cent. Additionally, more than $11.5 million is now being earmarked for improving pedestrian and cycling pathway networks. This funding is incredibly important here in Innes Ward and the East End, where we are seeing an increased need for road resurfacing and repairs due to the age of our community. Excitingly, this includes the $2 million required to complete the resurfacing of Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard; building on last summer’s work, completing the resurfacing south to Innes Road.
I am happy to share that the draft Budget 2022 also includes an additional $800,000 to support Energy Evolution, funding the program’s priority projects, such as the LED street light conversion and the greening/electrification of Ottawa’s vehicle fleet. As well, a dedicated $1.6 million in funding to support our urban canopy and the annual planting of 125,000 trees across Ottawa.
Budget 2022 will build on the years of prudent financial decisions, and healthy reserve funds that have left Ottawa well-insulated from the shocks experienced by other cities this past year. Many residents in our community continue to face financial hardship; and it’s more important than ever that Ottawa remains affordable to keep us on solid financial ground. There are many important aspects of this budget, including funding for affordable housing, community parks and recreation services, and improved winter snow clearing for roads, pathways, and sidewalks. While many residents have already provided their feedback to staff and myself at my previous budget consultation meetings, the budget has not been passed, and I would like to still hear from you again.
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