Highlights
Council approved the City’s 2022 budget today, ensuring the City can continue to deliver essential services while still advancing Council priorities, including affordable housing, support for social services, affordability for small businesses and the health and safety of residents.
The budget caps the overall municipal tax increase at three per cent, valued at an estimated $56.1 million. This means the average urban homeowner will pay an additional $119 per year while the average rural homeowner will pay an additional $91 per year.
The budget includes $427.3 million in capital funding to improve roads, bridges, culverts, sidewalks, pathways and intersections. It provides $194 million for the integrated program, which includes $76 million for road resurfacing. The program also includes $118 million for integrated projects that reduce costs by coordinating underground infrastructure work with reconstruction of roads, sidewalks and pathways. Another $62 million will fund major road construction projects while $13.4 million will enhance active transportation through programs like the Cycling and Pedestrian Facilities Programs.
The City will invest $17 million to develop more affordable and supportive housing, which includes $15 million in capital and $2 million in development charge exemptions for residents in greatest need. That investment builds on commitments in the previous three budgets totalling $51 million in this Term of Council. An additional $1 million in City funding will help local landlords make essential repairs and further increase the supply of affordable rental units in Ottawa.
The City has earmarked $27 million in Community Funding to non-profit social services agencies. With this largest increase to the Community Funding Framework since 2006, the funding demonstrates the City’s commitment to sustaining a strong social services sector to support communities that are most marginalized in Ottawa.
The cost of the EquiPass for low-income residents and the Community Pass for Ontario Disability Support Program recipients will also remain frozen at 2018 rates.
Council allocated $2.1 million from the Ottawa Police Service budget to support racialized youth program solutions, community-based, culturally appropriate mental health prevention services, addictions and crisis outreach services, and culturally safe mental health programs, services, crisis and social supports for our Indigenous community. It also directed up to $550,000 to develop an alternative call referral program identifying how and to whom low-risk, low-acuity 911 calls should be redirected.
Council allocated $435,000 from the Ottawa Police Service budget to fund a mental health strategy for the ByWard Market and Lowertown areas. The initiative is a partnership between local stakeholders, service providers and City representatives.
A proposed 2.5 per cent general fare increase for OC Transpo will only come into effect one full month after 15 trains are made available by Rideau Transit Group (RTG) for revenue service on O-Train Line 1. Once available, the number of trains in use to meet customer demand will be at the discretion of the General Manager of Transit Services. OC Transpo is also providing up to 2,000 no-charge transit passes to emergency shelters for the use of shelter clients.
The budget commits to greater affordability for local small businesses as well. The City has implemented a 15-per-cent tax discount for small businesses on qualifying properties. The full discount will be phased in over two years starting with a 7.5-per-cent reduction in 2022, benefiting about 10,000 small businesses.
Council received three new audits, examining the City’s grants and contributions program, benefits processing for long-term disability and the competitive procurement process. In all cases, the City agreed with recommendations from the Office of the Auditor General. Council also approved the Auditor General’s 2022-2023 workplan.
Council approved a zoning amendment on the creation and placement of outdoor commercial patios and retail pop-up spaces on private property. The amendment eliminates the minimum separation required between a patio and a residential zone, offering more flexibility for potential patio operators. While the City introduced these measures on a temporary basis in 2020, the amendment approved today will make those changes permanent.
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