Region of Waterloo's preliminary budget includes 8.6 per cent property tax increase
The Region of Waterloo’s budget discussions began in earnest Wednesday as regional staff tabled the preliminary 2023 budget.
The draft budget includes an 8.6 per cent property tax increase, which would see the average home with an assessed value of $354,500 paying an additional $188 on the regional portion of their annual property tax bill. Of that, around $50 would go toward policing.
The region’s chief financial officer says inflation is the main driver behind the tax hike proposed in the preliminary budget.
“We’ve experienced significant levels of inflation across all areas both from an operating and a capital perspective,” Craig Dyer told councillors Wednesday afternoon.
A report from staff says the preliminary budget "focuses on maintaining critical services during a period of unprecedented fiscal challenge and proposes investments focused on areas of top community need."
Those priorities include affordable housing, initiatives to address the homelessness crisis, transit service recovery and increased paramedic services.
Final approval of the budget is set for the end of February.
“Over the new few weeks I know we’ll have our sleeves rolled up,” Coun. Michael Harris told CTV News, noting councillors must balance people's ability to pay, given the rising costs of groceries and household items, with maintaining frontline services.
RESIDENTS SHARE BUDGET SUGGESTIONS
Members of the public had the chance to weigh in on council’s plans for the tax dollars at one of two budget public input sessions Wednesday night.
From a spike in inflation to the police budget – residents were open with councilors about where they wanted their tax money to go.
“It’s not cheap to hire police officers,” said delegate Eden Philip Kubassek. “A lot of police officers make $100,000 per year at the taxpayers' expense, plus healthcare, benefits and pension for life.”
Some wanted more support for emergency shelters.
“When you take a population of people with unsupported mental health and disabilities, remove all of the programmings and let them remain on waiting lists for years, you are creating shelter dependence through your system,” said delegate Lynn Charlton.
Others called for initiatives to help the homeless.
“This is maybe being quite optimistic, but I would like to see everybody in supportive housing. I don’t think we should need a support like tent city in the long-term,” said Jeff Willmer, board chair of A Better Tent City.
Others were looking for the region to invest in both sustainable and public transportation.
“Busy roads filled with people that could be taking public transit, or maybe even would be, if it weren’t so slow and consistently late,” delegate Brooklin Wallis said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.