City residents will learn this evening whether they can expect to pay more in property taxes this year.

The city is finally set to unveil its 2011 operating budget at tonight's council's meeting after delaying it for more than a month.

Rob Fendrick, the city's director of administrative services, explained in an earlier interview that after reaching tentative agreements with three of its unions, staff needed more time to calculate the new wage structures into the budget.

Since the new year, the city has operated under a provisional budget adopted in 2010. Under territorial legislation, the city has until April 15 to adopt its 2011 operating budget.

Along with outlining the spending plan to keep city services running, the document details any prospective tax and fee hikes.

Last year's $59.1-million operating budget saw a four-per-cent jump in property taxes along with increases of 10 per cent to garbage and compost collection and 7.23 per cent to water and sewer bills, among other increases to city service fees.

Though city officials have not indicated whether there will be any tax increases this year, in 2010 Mayor Bev Buckway said it was too early to commit to keeping the tax hikes at four per cent or lower the following year.

The four per cent hike added about an extra $1 million to the city coffers. That was enough to maintain much of the same level of service the city offered in previous years, though there were still some cuts including a full-time position at the Canada Games Centre that was lost through attrition.

While the city's population had grown to 25,690 last year, which means more tax dollars coming in, Buckway pointed out it also means there are now more water and sewer lines, roads and services to maintain.

2011 could see a similar situation with the addition of the Ingram subdivision and further plans to add residential development in existing neighbourhoods.

This year's budget address will come a full month after the city typically lays out its operating budget plans at the end of January.

Along with unveiling the proposed operating budget for the city tonight, council will also vote on first reading.

Second and third readings will come forward in the coming weeks, with the city typically offering a public input session for anyone wanting to address council on the spending plans.

The city adopted its nearly $21-million capital budget for 2011 last month.