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How the city plans to address a projected revenue shortfall — or deficit — of $36.3 million next year should become clear Thursday when the 2016 budget is tabled at Ottawa City Hall.
Mayor Jim Watson talked to the Citizen about what it could mean for taxpayers.
Q What three things do you hear most when people talk about the budget?
A They want to ensure that we continue to protect front-line services. They want us to maintain a stable tax system that’s predictable and reliable. And the third item varies depending on wards and parts of the city as to what priorities they have. In rural Ottawa, there’s a great pent-up demand for rehabilitating roads. In some parts of the city, there’s a desire for expanded recreation and parks facilities, and others, you get different groups that want to keep the investment in housing and funding for the arts and so on.
Q What are your expectations for the budget?
A The expectation is no surprises. I’ve always maintained that (we should remain on) the path we started on four years ago, where we balance the needs of all the different communities, whether they’re growth communities or older neighbourhoods, with the need to ensure Ottawa remains an affordable city for property taxpayers, families, renters and businesses. I ran on a very clear platform and got a strong mandate to continue with the same course of investments in key priorities, whether it’s affordable housing or recreation facilities, basic services, but live within our means.
Q Will the budget spell out exactly where the $36.3 million needed to address 2016’s projected deficit is to come from?
A I don’t think it’s going to get into a specific line-by-line, but it will give people a very clear idea of where the efficiencies will be found … That will be spelled out with all of the changes by department and by branch, and if people are not satisfied with the level of detail, they can ask for more detail.
Q Some councillors say they hear a two-part message from residents: Maintain services at the current level and if doing so would require a slight tax increase over two per cent, so be it.
A I notice some councillors have budget meetings and maybe 40 or 50 people will show up and recommend that we raise everyone else’s taxes … There’s always people that are quite willing to say that they’ll pay you more money, but it’s not a solo decision. If you say that, everyone has their bill go up, and sometimes you get conflicting messages where someone will say they say they want taxes to go up but they also want cuts to this and cuts to that. We have to take all of that information and filter it through and ultimately make the decision we think is in the best interests of the city.
Q Where do you stand on OC Transpo fare increases?
A If we could freeze wages and freeze the price of gas, then we could freeze fares, but that’s not realistic.
Q Are you a good money manager?
A I’m pretty frugal with my own money and I like to be equally frugal with the taxpayer’s money … It’s not a choice that you can or can’t pay for your property taxes, you have to pay for them, and my view is we have that obligation to be fiscally disciplined, live up to our commitment we made to our voters and ultimately present something that offers an affordability level not just for families, but for businesses.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
mpearson@ottawacitizen.com
twitter.com/mpearson78
查看原文...
Mayor Jim Watson talked to the Citizen about what it could mean for taxpayers.
Q What three things do you hear most when people talk about the budget?
A They want to ensure that we continue to protect front-line services. They want us to maintain a stable tax system that’s predictable and reliable. And the third item varies depending on wards and parts of the city as to what priorities they have. In rural Ottawa, there’s a great pent-up demand for rehabilitating roads. In some parts of the city, there’s a desire for expanded recreation and parks facilities, and others, you get different groups that want to keep the investment in housing and funding for the arts and so on.
Q What are your expectations for the budget?
A The expectation is no surprises. I’ve always maintained that (we should remain on) the path we started on four years ago, where we balance the needs of all the different communities, whether they’re growth communities or older neighbourhoods, with the need to ensure Ottawa remains an affordable city for property taxpayers, families, renters and businesses. I ran on a very clear platform and got a strong mandate to continue with the same course of investments in key priorities, whether it’s affordable housing or recreation facilities, basic services, but live within our means.
Q Will the budget spell out exactly where the $36.3 million needed to address 2016’s projected deficit is to come from?
A I don’t think it’s going to get into a specific line-by-line, but it will give people a very clear idea of where the efficiencies will be found … That will be spelled out with all of the changes by department and by branch, and if people are not satisfied with the level of detail, they can ask for more detail.
Q Some councillors say they hear a two-part message from residents: Maintain services at the current level and if doing so would require a slight tax increase over two per cent, so be it.
A I notice some councillors have budget meetings and maybe 40 or 50 people will show up and recommend that we raise everyone else’s taxes … There’s always people that are quite willing to say that they’ll pay you more money, but it’s not a solo decision. If you say that, everyone has their bill go up, and sometimes you get conflicting messages where someone will say they say they want taxes to go up but they also want cuts to this and cuts to that. We have to take all of that information and filter it through and ultimately make the decision we think is in the best interests of the city.
Q Where do you stand on OC Transpo fare increases?
A If we could freeze wages and freeze the price of gas, then we could freeze fares, but that’s not realistic.
Q Are you a good money manager?
A I’m pretty frugal with my own money and I like to be equally frugal with the taxpayer’s money … It’s not a choice that you can or can’t pay for your property taxes, you have to pay for them, and my view is we have that obligation to be fiscally disciplined, live up to our commitment we made to our voters and ultimately present something that offers an affordability level not just for families, but for businesses.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
mpearson@ottawacitizen.com
twitter.com/mpearson78
查看原文...
