Budget obliges residents to dig deeper

It's expected to cost more than $55 million to operate the city in the coming year

It’s expected to cost more than $55 million to operate the city in the coming year, with the 2009 budget proposing a four per cent increase to property taxes and 12.5 per cent hike in water and sewer fees.

That brings the average tax bill for this year up to $1,875, with utilities costing an extra $75 over the course of the year.

Meanwhile, the city is also proposing an increase to most of its other fees, with the exception of garbage collection, to bring in an estimated $743,780.

Among the other changes city residents could see if the budget is approved are:

* A 1.5 per cent boost to recreation user fees and 10 per cent hike in ice bookings.

While what that means varies by a number of factors, ice rental for an adult non-profit group would go up to $103.60 per hour (including the GST) on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., and a monthly pass to the Canada Games Centre for adults would climb to $47.40 with the GST;

* A 44 per cent increase to parkade fees, bringing them up to $120 monthly at the Main Street location and $134.30 at the Second Avenue and Steele Street lot;

* A 20 per cent markup on all staff and equipment time and 35 per cent markup on all materials and shipping costs for third party rates;

* A 10 per cent increase to burning permits, which will mean a price tag of $110 for open burning for land clearing, $11 or $22 on a seven-day burn permit for other than land clearing; and

* A variety of increases to development permits, inspections and other charges. Among those charges will be the option for residents to purchase additional $200 compost carts to the ones they’ll be given for compost collection.

On a department basis, the city plans to spend:

* $20.8 million on general government services, with revenues from those coming in at $37.8 million;

* $5.1 million on protective services, which bring in $1.5 million;

* $10.4 million on transportation services, which bring in $4.3 million;

* $7.7 million on environmental and health services, which bring in $7.8 million;

* $189,150 on cemeteries and interment, which bring in $84,500;

* $2.2 million on community development services, which bring in $1 million; and

* $9.1 million on recreation and cultural services, which bring in $2.9 million.

The city will host a public input session into the operating budget at its Feb. 9 meeting, with a report on that coming to council Feb. 16.

Council would then vote on second and third readings at its Feb. 23 meeting.