Information posted December 18, 2012

 

 

Seniors will be interested to note in the following the support for free transit for seniors on Mondays. We will monitor this and add information on this webpage as and when it becomes available.

The following news release has been sent to the media.

Budget Committee recommends 3.01% increase to town portion of tax bill, 1.47% increase to total property tax.

Oakville, December 13, 2012, for immediate release.

Achieving Council’s direction to keep the total property tax increase in line with inflation, Oakville’s 2013 Budget Committee has recommended a 3.01 per cent total increase to the town’s portion of the tax bill. This recommendation will go before Council for approval on Monday, December 17, 2012. If approved by Council, Oakville residents would see an overall increase to their property tax bill of 1.47 per cent in 2013.

“This recommended budget invests in maintaining Oakville’s infrastructure, reduces tax-supported debt and keeps the overall tax increase in line with inflation,” said 2013 Budget Chair Councillor Tom Adams. The Budget Committee has responded to public suggestions by modifying some transit routes, adding a new trial transit route along North Service Road East, supporting free transit for seniors on Mondays as well as recommending an inflationary increase to our cultural grants program.

According to Deputy Treasurer and Director of Financial Planning Nancy Sully, the 3.01 per cent increase to the town’s portion of the tax bill includes a 0.98 per cent increase for the costs of providing town programs and services, and a 2.03 per cent increase in funding for infrastructure renewal. When the town’s portion of the tax bill is combined with the regional and education tax levy, it results in the proposed 1.47 per cent increase on the property tax bill.

Some of the top capital projects recommended for funding in this year’s budget are: $5.5 million for road resurfacing and preservation; $4.7 million for a new maintenance and operations facility in north Oakville; $2.9 million for transit buses; $2.8 million for the expansion of Oakville’s road capacity; $2.5 million to battle the Emerald Ash Borer infestation; and $2.4 million for a fire station in north Oakville.