Regional Council approves 2.96 per cent tax increase

Waterloo Region – Regional Council approved the 2016 budget today.

The 2016 tax increase of 2.96 per cent will help provide the infrastructure and enhanced citizen services necessary to meet the growing needs of our community.

The Region is a major provider of essential community services including: helping families children and seniors; ensuring the quality of our drinking water; getting people to the hospital in emergencies; ensuring the availability of affordable housing; providing public transit; garbage and recycling collection; planning for growth; and supporting other vital community interests.

“Going forward we need to invest in services and infrastructure that maintain our quality of life,” said Ken Seiling, Regional Chair. “This budget meets the high demand for services expected in our community.”

“The Region is facing many financial pressures and we have worked diligently to deliver a budget that meets as many needs as possible, while continuing to keep tax rates low.  Ongoing efforts to find efficiencies and review services are paying off, and the modest tax increase and fee adjustments will help ensure financial sustainability,” said Sean Strickland, Regional Councillor and Chair of the Budget Committee.

Additional funds have been allocated in this budget to invest in a number of critical services. These include adding a 24-hour ambulance to paramedic services, enhancing MobilityPLUS, offering a transit U-PASS for Conestoga College, and adding transit service to Family & Children’s Services on Hanson Ave. The budget also continues to invest in new infrastructure to support growth and the repair and replacement of existing, aging infrastructure in areas such as: roads; bridges; transit; water supply and wastewater treatment facilities; affordable housing units; and Regional buildings.

“Regional staff worked hard to try to balance many competing priorities in the 2016 budget,” said Mike Murray, Chief Administrative Officer. “Staff have identified over $10 million in sustainable base budget reductions over the last five years, and continue to focus on providing excellent value to the community.”

The increase of 2.29 per cent for Regional services and 0.67 per cent for Police services will impact the average household by $54. Regional services account for about 50 per cent of the residential property tax bill.

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 For more information, please contact:

 Ken Seiling, Regional Chair, 519-575-4585

 Sean Strickland, Budget Committee Chair 519-575-4404 Ext. 3414

 Craig Dyer, Chief Financial Officer, 519-575-4545