Operating Budget deliberations underway
City council is underway with deliberations for the 2019 Operating Budget, which is being described as the toughest budget in over a decade.
In fact, City Manager Craig Curtis said this budget was the toughest he’s worked on since the 1980s.
Council is considering a proposed $370 million Operating Budget that includes a $3.33 million increase in spending over last year, resulting in a 2.5% property tax increase (including the annual one per cent capital amenity contribution). As such, a home valued at $325,000 would see an increase of $54 to the municipal portion of their property tax bill.
About $2.6 million of the additional spending is proposed for community safety – identified as the public’s top priority.