KANATA NORTH NEWS Marianne Wilkinson Councillor, Kanata North BUDGET APPROVED

Council unanimously approved a two-phased approach to the 2008 Operating and Capital Budgets last week. The budget generally maintains service levels but increases some charges for parking, development fees, waste fees, transit and adult recreation. Some cuts were made by deferring some new projects and canceling the bio-diesel project. As part of the first phase of that strategy, Council set an initial operating budget of $2.1 billion (without police), a police budget of $204 million and a capital budget of $596 million. Together with a special infrastructure levy of $20 million a 4.9 per cent property tax increase is forecast with 1.5% for the operating budget, 1.4% for the police budget and 2% for infrastructure. The second phase will begin next month when the Long Range Financial Planning Committee (on which Im a member) will start a review and analysis of the citys administrative branches and programs. The initial review, to be completed prior to setting the tax rate in April, will look for savings which could be used to reduce the tax rate. Following this initial review a program review of all city operations will commence, with the objective of making the city operations more cost-effective and efficient. For Kanata North I was able to get Council support to add $300,000 to the budget for the studies and proposal call costs for developing the Main Street for Kanata which will be recovered many times over from the sale of lands and future tax revenues and to move all of the capital authority for the Kanata North Recreation Complex into 2008 enabling us to go out for bids to build the complex in 2008. There is no impact on the tax rate from either of these projects as the first is cash recoverable and the second funded from development charges paid on new construction. Funds are provided in the capital budget for intersection improvements at Carling and Herzberg, for the final design of the first two lanes of Terry Fox Drive between Kanata Avenue and Flamborough, for undertaking an environmental assessment for a tunnel under Terry Fox at the Centrum, for resurfacing Leacock Drive and for some ongoing park development. Transit improvements include completing the transitway from Pinecrest to Bayshore and updating the environmental assessment of the transitway from Woodroffe to Pinecrest in 2008. In 2009 funds are earmarked for building the Transitway from Bayshore to Moodie and from March to Terry Fox. Construction from Woodroffe to Pinecrest is scheduled for 2010.

There has been much concern raised over the increase in transit fares. Council was faced with the choice of raising fares or cutting existing services on 80 routes and not providing any service at all to new areas such as Brookside. The policy of having 55% of the fare from users has been reduced to 50% and staff had recommended a phased in increase in fares to reach the 50% user to 50% taxes level. The first step, an average increase of 7.5%, was approved by Council for a July, 2008 implementation. Rates will increase from 0% for cash fares to 4.8% for senior and community passes to 12.2% for adult express passes. The rational for the higher increase on express passes was to reflect the higher costs of providing trips that cross the Greenbelt. Passes are also deductible on your income tax. Ottawa has one of the lowest average fares in Canada based on fares to trips taken. I voted against a motion to include a further 7.5% increase in the 2009 budget as I feel that future increase should not exceed the inflation rate. Staff have been mandated to continue to assist in finding efficiencies, providing options to control spending, and looking for new revenue sources to deliver services. Council will receive a report in April detailing the final 2008 Budget impacts on residential and business taxes.

SEASONS GREETINGS - WINTERS HERE!

My staff and I wish you and your families a safe and happy holiday season. With all the snow weve received be extra careful in driving or walking. Please report any missed snow clearing by calling 311 or email to 311@ottawa.ca

Serving the residents and businesses in Kanata North

To receive the Kanata North Newsletter, to deal with a concern or make a suggestion contact me at 613-580-2474, email Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca or through www.mariannewilkinson.com. My office in the Mlacak Centre is staffed Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 am to 3 pm. I am available at a time convenient for you by appointment.