Hamilton City Council approves 2019 Tax Operating Budget

HAMILTON, ON - Today, Hamilton City Council approved the 2019 Tax Operating Budget allowing the City to build on its 2018 accomplishments and make significant ongoing investments in the growth of our city and the health and wellbeing of Hamilton residents.

This year’s Net Tax Supported Operating Budget of $887 million requires a 2.5% municipal property tax increase, which translates to $88 for the average residential property assessed at $358,600 and is one of the lowest among comparator municipalities.

In addition to property taxes, the City also receives revenues annually from user fees for recreation and transit user fees, government grants and subsidies, license and permit fees and property tax revenue, including revenue from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), which provided $5.3 million in revenue in 2018, helping to offset annual costs of delivering programs and services.

As part of this year’s 2019 Tax Supported Operating Budget, City departments have developed four-year (2019-2022) business plans that outline key priorities and milestones that support the City’s Strategic Plan and contribute to the City’s vision to be the best place to raise a child and age successfully.

“The 2019 budget ensures we continue to deliver city services efficiently, while keeping our residential tax increase low when compared to other similar-sized Ontario municipalities. I’m proud this budget is able to provide and enhance the services Hamiltonians count on including affordable housing, public transit, road repairs, as well as additional police officers to keep our communities safe, and a living wage increase for our crossing guards who keep our children safe.

On behalf of my council colleagues, thank you to everyone who made their voices heard during this budget process.”

Mayor, Fred Eisenberger

2019 Budget highlights

• $1.8 million for an additional 39,000 service hours in the Transit Strategy
• $4.3 million for an additional 90,000 rides for DARTS
• $24.3 million towards Transit initiatives including upgrades and repairs to 350 transit shelters and 18 replacement HSR buses.
• $99.5 million towards affordable housing and homelessness programs including emergency shelters, supportive housing, new affordable housing construction, repairs to social housing and eviction prevention programs.
• $1.4 million in renovations to the City’s two long term care facilities
• $3.7 million towards Waste Management initiatives
• $4.5 million towards Forestry and Horticulture
• $600,000 in energy savings thanks to converting 10,000 high pressure sodium street lights to energy efficient LED lights
• $75.8 million towards Roads, bridges, traffic operations, sidewalks rehabilitation
• $6.12 million for 2019 to be allocated for community programming through the City Enrichment Fund
• $1.6 million (gross) for an additional ambulance and 10 new paramedics to support Hamilton’s growing population.
• Development of a city-wide Drug & Opioid Strategy focusing on the pillars of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and enforcement
• Delivery of Transgender Protocol training to employees
• Funding for childcare expansion in Riverdale neighbourhood and for Indigenous families
• A continued focus on ensuring growth in the culture and creative sectors, including museum visits and film permits.
• Continuous improvement with the City’s Performance Excellence Dashboard with emphasis on the use of Results Based Accountability framework for performance measurement.
• Enable Open Data capabilities and processes to support the Citizen Dashboard.

Additional Resources

2019 Budget www.hamilton.ca/Budget2019
2019 - 2022 Multi-year Business Plans www.hamilton.ca/BusinessPlans
City of Hamilton Strategic Plan 2016 - 2025 www.hamilton.ca/StrategicPlan