Gatineau, December 6, 2016. – Gatineau Municipal Council today adopted the 2017 budget built around the theme of
Four years of strategic choices.
Quick facts
A balanced budget
| ● | A $577.8 million balanced budget.
- Unlike other levels of government, municipalities are not allowed to adopt deficit budgets.
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| ● | Gatineau was able to limit its total spending increase to $12.98 million or 2.3% (including the dedicated tax) in 2017.
- This is the smallest increase since the merger.
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| ● | The operating budget increase over 2016 is 1.6% (without the dedicated tax). |
| ● | The tax increase for 2017 is 2.9%, which is equivalent to $75 for a median tax account (property value of $237,700). |
| ● | The tax increase can be broken down into two components:
- 1.9% corresponding to the Bank of Canada target consumer price index (CPI). This component helps protect the level of service and ensures that infrastructures are properly maintained.
- 1% fully dedicated to infrastructure catch-up. This component has made it possible to invest $56 million so far, and to add another $25.2 million in 2017.
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The Commission de révision des dépenses et des services
| ● | The Commission will pursue its review of Gatineau's costs, organizational performance and its offer of services. |
| ● | In 2016, the Commission de révision des dépenses identified $2.9 million in savings. |
| ● | Since 2013, $13.2 million (88% of the total objective) in savings have been achieved.
- The objective for late 2016 was initially set at $9 million (60% of the total objective).
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| ● | The Commission's goal is to identify recurrent savings of $15 million by 2018. |
| ● | The savings identified by the Commission will be allocated to reducing the annual budget shortfall. |
Revenue diversification plan
| ● | The revenue diversification plan tabled in 2015 is intended to reduce our dependence on the property tax and on limiting tax increases. |
| ● | It represents one of the orientations in the long-term financial plan for ensuring Gatineau's financial viability. |
| ● | Several major issues are being addressed in collaboration with the Union des municipalités du Québec and other cities. |
A debt under control
| ● | Gatineau continues to manage its debt prudently. |
| ● | It is estimated at $563.8 million in 2016, and should decrease by $6 million for a third consecutive year in 2017. |
| ● | The debt service only represents 11% of the budget.
- It is 1% less than last year.
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| ● | More than 60% of the investment plan is paid in cash. |
Service improvements
| ● | Despite all of its efforts to hold back, Gatineau is in a position to invest in certain service improvements. |
Since 2013, Gatineau has:
| ● | increased funding for municipal policies (heritage, culture, celebrations and festivals, and social development, as well as the action plan for seniors); |
| ● | chosen to earmark close to $1 million annually for time in sports infrastructures in the Branchaud-Brière complex; |
| ● | revived the Ruisseau de la Brasserie skating rink; |
| ● | developed partnerships with the Université du Québec en Outaouais and the École nationale d'administration publique; |
| ● | encouraged the creation of workshops and residencies for artists; |
| ● | introduced a pilot project to increase security and the sense of security in school hallways; |
| ● | improved our support for groups interested in setting up outdoor skating rinks; and |
| ● | expanded the Aurélien-Doucet library. |
Investment plan
| ● | Total investments for the next three years is $383.9 million, $126 million of which are in 2017. |
The work will include:
| ● | a multi-year intervention plan to correct an issue with water discoloration: $53 million over several years
- the intervention plan is possible because of the introduction of the dedicated infrastructure tax;
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| ● | the pursuit of two major intervention plans begun in 2016 (2016-2020 horizon ): rue Notre-Dame ($19.3 million) and boulevard Saint-Joseph ($42.6 million); |
| ● | road repairs: $23.8 million |
| ● | repairs to the water supply and sewer systems: $34.9 million |
| ● | social housing (AccèsLogis Québec): $2 million |
| ● | residential renovation program: $1.2 million |
| ● | maintenance of municipal buildings: $6.7 million |
| ● | investments in active transportation:
- a $3.8 million work program to develop recreational pathways is under way, and expected to be completed by late 2019;
- an annual $1.4 million annual envelope to develop the bike path; and
- $470,000 annually to redo the bike path network;
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| ● | new sidewalks in urban areas: $470,000 |
| ● | intervention plans:
- traffic calming measures: $470,000;
- four-year parks plan (QUAD): $3.3 million;
- continuation of the computer system master plan: $21.5 million over five years;
- construction of two synthetic fields: D'Arcy-McGee–Symmes ($2.5 million) and Grande-Rivière ($2.4 million). A $1.25 million grant awarded for each synthetic field by Quebec's ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur; and
- continuation of the vehicle and machinery catch-up program: $3.125 million
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Quote
“Since 2013, a series of strategic choices have enabled us to fine-tune our approaches and to invest according to our priorities. Our rigorous principles and the Council's overall vision guided our decisions. Despite the many challenges we face, Gatineau's financial health is sound. The house is in order, and Gatineau's future looks bright,” indicated Gatineau Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin.
Images
Work done by the Commission de révision des dépenses et des services
Tax increase
Budget expenditure increases
Associated documents
Quick facts www.gatineau.ca/docs/guichet_mun…
Mayor's speech www.gatineau.ca/docs/guichet_mun…
2017 Budget www.gatineau.ca/docs/guichet_mun…
Associated link
Gatineau's Web site www.gatineau.ca/portail/default.…
