Facing the prospect of a 3.63 per cent residential tax increase for 2021, city council members have their eyes on a number of projects that could bring that figure down and others that could push it upward.
During Wednesday's special council meeting, designed to hear from delegates about the draft budget, council members made their intentions known on a number of fronts. Here's what we can expect them to bring up when efforts to finalize next years budget resume next week:
Coun. Christine Billings:
- "Pause or reduce" funding for the Urban Forest Management Plan, as well as the hospital and infrastructure special levies, projects related to achieving 100 per cent renewable energy use at all city facilities by 2050
- Use of reserves to increase funding for The Elliott Community, request is for $502,800 to increase staff wages and salaries
Coun. Dominique O'Rourke:
- Changes to the affordable housing reserve, currently in the budget at $500,000
- Funding for The Elliott
- Use of micro transit to service some Guelph Transit routes
- Use of Community Improvement Plan (CIP) grants to "offset some of the increase"
Coun. Dan Gibson:
- Adoption of micro transit
- One-time reduced rental rates for community groups and youth minor sports
- Reduction of the infrastructure levy from one per cent to 0.25 per cent
- One-time property tax reductions for small business owners
Coun. Rodrigo Goller:
- Take $150,000 from anticipated transfer to affordable housing reserve to fund a staff position to handle affordable housing project requests
- Expand criteria for the tax deferral program
- Use of micro transit for a route to the Hanlon Creek Business Park and potentially other routes
- Provide one-time funding of $220,000 for the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition (councillors Cathy Downer and Mike Salisbury announced their intention to join Goller on this)
Coun. Mike Salisbury:
- Deferral of red light cameras, planned for six intersections next year
- Move up plans for a new bicycle skills facility from 2028
Coun. Mark MacKinnon:
- Expedite shift from taxpayer subsidized parking in the downtown to a fully user-pay system
Mayor Cam Guthrie:
- Move up plans for a new bicycle skills facility from 2028
- Lighting for the skate park
- Funding for Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness and Community Safety initiatives – $61,200 for addiction court support and $91,000 for the Welcoming Streets initiative
- Reductions to travel and conference expenses currently set at about $1 million
- One-time funding to re-establish free criminal background checks for community volunteers through The People and Information Network.
