Budget 2011 - Overview

On March 8, 2011, City Council adopted Budget 2011 and a tax increase of 2.45%.

Budget 2011’s 2.45% increase for urban home owners and commercial properties represents an increase of $75 this year for City services. Rural area homeowners will see a 2.4% increase. Compared to the last few years, the average urban tax increase is considerably less this year. For example, the tax increase for urban home owners was $135 in 2008; $166 in 2009; and $125 in 2010.

The Ottawa Public Library Board and the Ottawa Police Services Board have also adopted budgets in line with 2.5%.

Highlights of Budget 2011 include:

  • Freezing of recreation fees for activities for the first time since amalgamation;
  • 22 front line paramedics with two new, fully equipped ambulances and two new technicians to keep the ambulances on the streets;
  • 45 new firefighters to staff two new fire stations;
  • $10 million investment in Housing and Poverty Reduction initiatives that is in addition to a $4 million capital investment for housing initiatives;
  • $161 million towards projects and programs to improve and streamline the bus system;
  • Provisions to expand the free transit period for seniors from Wednesdays only to include Mondays and Fridays after 12 noon (beginning in April);
  • 74 new bus drivers to improve service and reduce overtime;
  • $500,000 funding envelope for priority environmental initiatives;
  • $2.8 million per year for new cycling initiatives across the city;
  • $28 million to address the flooding and sewage back-up problems in the west end;
  • $2 million allocated for economic development initiatives;
  • Capital spending plan that focuses on transit investments, the renewal of roads and sewers and new parks and recreation facilities;
  • Advances key initiatives including: the Ottawa River Action Plan, Light Rail and Lansdowne redevelopment;
  • $4.8 million in 2011 towards the first phase of funding for a new $48 million recreation complex in Barrhaven South; and,
  • Capital works over the next few years to improve Ottawa’s road network, including: $29.3 million expansion of Trim Road in Orleans; $17.3 million on the east-end extension from Navan Road to 10th Line Road; $9.5 million on St. Joseph Boulevard; and, our share of the Highway 417 interchange.

Approved Budget 2011 documents will be available on online in coming weeks.