Hamilton’s 2019 operating budget is now set in stone.
The $887-million blueprint was formally approved during Wednesday night’s city council meeting, and it calls for a 2.5 per cent property tax increase.
The 2.5 per cent jump translates to $88 for the average residential property, assessed at $358,600, although there will be variations depending on a home’s location within the city.
READ MORE: Water rates to rise by 4.6% in Hamilton
Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger says he’s very pleased with a budget that “makes investments in some of the key issues we are challenged with” while arriving at what he calls a “reasonable” tax increase.
The highlights of Hamilton’s 2019 budget include:
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- $1.8 million for an additional 39,000 service hours in the city’s transit strategy and $24.3 million towards upgrades and repairs to 350 transit shelters as well as 18 replacement Hamilton Street Railway buses
- $4.3 million for an additional 90,000 rides for DARTS, the city’s paratransit service
- $99.5 million towards affordable housing and homelessness programs, including emergency shelters, supportive housing, new affordable housing construction, repairs to social housing and eviction prevention programs
- $1.4 million in renovations to Hamilton’s two long-term care facilities
- Funding for childcare expansion in the Riverdale neighbourhood and for Indigenous families
- $3.7 million towards waste management initiatives
- $4.5 million towards forestry and horticulture
- $75.8 million towards roads, bridges, traffic operations and sidewalks rehabilitation
- $1.6 million (gross) for an additional ambulance and 10 new paramedics as well as development of a citywide drug and opioid strategy focusing on the pillars of prevention, harm reduction, treatment and enforcement
- B.C.’s deficit forecast up $450M to $13.8B after calculation errors on gas royalties
- B.C.’s new party led by Milobar gains 7th member as Donegal Wilson joins
- TC Energy urges co-operation on growing natural gas network to meet ‘generational’ demand
- Unique houseboat raising eyebrows and questions in Surrey
The full distribution of tax dollars for Hamilton’s 2019 operating budget can be found here.
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