Homeowners in Greater Sudbury will see their property taxes increase by 3.9 per cent this year, or $102 for an average family home valued at $230,000.
Councillors approved the city's $519 million budget Wednesday, and were able to include a series of options worth close to $800,000. They accomplished that by dipping into a tax rate reserve fund that will be replenished with a budget surplus from 2015 that could be as high as $1 million.
Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger, who froze taxes last year, said after Wednesday's meeting that residents knew the freeze was for just one year.
"I know with certainty that people were expecting an increase in taxes (this year),” Bigger told reporters. “I've heard a lot of positive response to the investments we're making towards capital projects, towards sustainability of our infrastructure. There was never the thought that we'd be holding to zero for years on end."
The 3.9 per cent increase breaks down like this:
- 1.8 per cent will go towards maintaining municipal services at their current level
- 0.3 per cent will go toward boosting capital spending to maintain the city's infrastructure
- 0.5 per cent will pay for increases in budgets of police, health unit and the Nickel District Conservation Authority
- 1.3 per cent will fund increases in costs of provincially mandated services.
A number of the enhancements are geared toward Sudbury Transit, including creating a new active transportation co-ordinator position. That person's job will be to encourage and make it easier for residents to ride the bus.
Bigger said improving transit has emerged as a priority for this term of city council. The goal is to increase ridership, which has flat-lined and even declined in recent years.
"That's the intention of a number of the measure that we've taken, and very soon we'll have free rides for seniors," he said.
"(We want to) help people understand the route structures and how they can best get use out of our transit system. There are number and initiatives and ideas that staff are working on related to transit.
"There's been strong interest and heightened awareness in transit and we have opportunities to improve our transit system. So what it's showing is there is a willingness among council to invest in the transit system."
Ward 7 Coun. Mike Jakubo, who chaired the budget committee for the second year, thanked staff for their efforts throughout the process. He said the budget sets the city up for growth and development.
“It may not be the number everyone was looking for, but it's an investment in open and transparent government,” Jakubo said.
The budget will be formally approved at the Feb. 9 city council meeting.
For more details on the 2016 municipal budget, go to www.greatersudbury.ca/budget.
