City council has voted to approve the 2025 City of Ottawa budget that will include scaled back fares hikes for seniors and retain youth discount passes while raising taxes across the board for most homeowners.
City council has voted to approve the 2025 City of Ottawa budget that will include scaled back fare hikes for seniors and retain youth discount passes while raising taxes across the board for most homeowners.
Residents will see a 2.9 per cent property tax increase plus a hike to the transit levy that would raise the average urban property tax bill by $168 in 2025. The draft budget earmarks an eight per cent increase to the transit levy, an approximately one per cent hike in taxes to most homeowners. The cost of a senior monthly pass will go up from $49 to $58.25 effective in February 2025. Staff had originally proposed raising seniors passes 120 per cent – to $108. Following significant pushback, the Transportation Commission voted last week to reduce the increase to $78.50 but some councillors felt that was still too high.
"These are concerns I have because I think they are not realistic in coming to fruition. And I have an ethical obligation when I vote for a budget to make sure it’s the best budget before us and the estimates in the budget are as realistic as they can be," he said."I know that this is a file that has been a source of great frustration for residents and for councillors and everyone," he said.
"We're squeezing the lemon a little harder to be able to find those savings to be able to make this happen. While some people criticize that we're just kicking the ball down the road, no, our discussions were very determined," Coun. Tim Tierney said. The budget includes a five per cent overall increase to fares. A single-ride adult fare paid by credit card will increase to $4, while a cash fare will go up to $4.05.
The police service's budget also includes $5.4 million for new police cars, up to $1.9 million for conducted energy weapons, such as Tasers, and $10.3 million for upgrades to police headquarters on Elgin Street. The food you eat may be affecting your body’s ability to fight cancer cells in the colon, according to a new study.Negotiations between Canada Post and the union representing its workers appear to be in a deadlock as the two sides remain far apart on wages and other issues.The Liberals' promise of a temporary GST break and $250 rebate cheques haven't benefited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his minority government when it comes to public support, according to Nanos Research data.
Invest Windsor-Essex is facing a big budget cut. Essex County council recently agreed to lower the amount of funding to Invest Windsor-Essex and the City of Windsor is set to do the same.Man assaults and disarms police in Hyde Park bank: London police Manitoba nurse found not criminally responsible for killing parents has licence to practice suspended
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