A new six-year capital plan and a 0.9% property tax increase are approved for the City of Windsor's 2018 budget.
The property tax increase will bring the municipal levy up to just over $401-million as part of the city's $800-million budget — the rest made up of fees, grants and other charges.
Property owners can expect to pay about $27 more on the tax bill for a home valued at $150,000.
Mayor Drew Dilkens feels the 2018 budget is putting the city in a good spot.
"Certainly, I think it addressed the multiple needs that exist across the city and then there were some exciting things we were able to add that I think will be of interest to people who live here that make investments in our city, in the parks that we own and you know, add and address some of the concerns that we've heard throughout the year," says Dilkens.
The new capital plan approved by council this afternoon will see nearly $644-million spent on city infrastructure and other initiatives from 2018 - 2023. There's also a hefty $22.6-million approved in the enhanced capital budget for 2018 on top of $100-million in capital spending for the budget year.
Ward 8 Councillor Bill Marra pushes for funding for to pay for an engineering and design report for a new community centre in the Fountainbleu area of Windsor at a budget meeting on January 16, 2018. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Windsor Ward 8 Councillor Bill Marra took part in his 21st budget process and is impressed with the 2018 budget calling it very "professional" and the conversation at the council table more "constructive" than the last few years.
Despite not getting the money for a new Fountainbleu community centre, Marra feels residents can be proud of this budget.
"I've seen how it's evolved over the years. I was very, very impressed with the documents, the business cases," says Marra. "I'm pleased for the community. We came in at under one percent on the operating side and we're still investing a significant amount in capital."
Dilkens is happy to see his pitch to have a new boat carry people over to Peche Island made it into the final budget document.
"It's a gem. It's 86 acres. We're a city that owns and island," says Dilkens. "Creating access for people who live here to be able to get to that island I think is important and if you've been there any time in the last few years, you recognize how special that place is."
Councillors for the City of Windsor comb through the proposed 2018 operating budget on January 15, 2018. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
The 2018 budget also includes $250,000 for the Windsor International Film Festival, $500,000 for a new bike park and $75,000 for a new electrical box on Maiden Lane meant to help support the Downtown Windsor Farmers Market.
Dilkens cautions residents to not expect the $22.6-million enhanced capital budget every year.
"It's not sustainable in terms of being able to do that each and every year," says Dilkens.
The mayor points to $6-million moved over from the operating side to the capital side of the budget over the next six years starting in 2018 as well as some other projects getting off the city's plate because Windsor International Airport will be able to handle the work.
"We pushed them back to the airport to fund and the airport is in a position — sitting on $6-million in cash — their in a position to fund their own projects because of the success of operations at that particular location," says Dilkens.
Heading into budget talks, councillors were faced with a proposed 2.6% increase but, through a series of cuts, were able to reduce the increase to under a percent.