Ottawa’s 2024 draft budget tabled at council

Ottawa city councillors were presented with the 2024 draft budget at Wednesday’s council session.

The City is proposing an overall tax increase of 2.5 per cent, meaning the average urban homeowner would pay an additional $105 on their annual property tax bill, while the average rural homeowner would pay an additional $86.

Draft budget 2024 includes $33.5 million in municipal city homelessness funding which will invest $15.7 million for the housing and homelessness investment plan, provide $8.8 million for housing related benefits. $4.6 million for family and emergency shelters, $3.1 million for other homelessness programs and $1.3 million to support the social housing program.

The City is also $5 million to support the Integrated Transition to Housing Strategy and $21.8 million in affordable housing as part of the Housing Long Range Financial Plan.

Other highlights include:

• More than $62 million in parks and building investments
• $48.4 million in Provincial Homelessness Prevention Program Funding for community outreach and support services, emergency shelter solutions, housing assistance, supportive housing and administration
• $29.4 million through the Community Funding Framework to invest financial and capacity building resources in the non-profit social services sector to address poverty, inequitable access to services and other barriers
• More than $16 million in community safety investments
• $15.8 million in Federal Reaching Home Funding
• $15.2 million in Federal-Provincial Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative funding
• $5.9 million in Federal-Provincial Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative funding
• $1.5 million in provincial and municipal investments to maintain Ottawa Public Health programs
• $466,000 for the Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hub Expansion funded by the provincial Ministry of Health  

Budget 2024 includes more than $300 million for overall integrated road construction and road renewal, storm and surface water rehabilitation, bridges, sidewalks and pathways.

The budget includes more than $62 million for traffic and pedestrian safety improvements, ranging from intersection control measures, programs for cycling and pedestrian facilities, network modifications, active transportation, neighbourhood traffic calming, and more. It also includes road safety initiatives in accordance with the approved Strategic Road Safety Action Plan.

Other highlights include:

• Investing $366 million in Stage 2 of light rail during 2024, with an additional $11.9 million added to support the Rail Operational Readiness Program.
• $140 million for bridge renewals, road rehabilitation and road resurfacing work
• $4.4 million to establish a new Automated Speed Enforcement processing centre  
• More than $3 million to:
  • Adapt and extend the life of parking facility infrastructure 
  • Support the installation of additional EV charging within the right-of-way 
  • Implement the public bike parking strategy, including secure and unsecure bike parking  
  • Conduct parking studies and parking data collection throughout the city related to growth and parking trends 
  • Improve parking facility features such as accessibility and wayfinding 

The 2024 draft budget includes $180 million for zero-emission buses, as well as $63.2 million to protect City facilities, including wastewater treatment, drinking water treatment, energy conservation measures, accessibility upgrades and tree planting programs. More trees will be planted to grow and preserve the tree canopy in neighbourhoods with fewer trees.

The City is also allocating $4.5 million for the evaluation, development and implementation of enhancements to the City’s Solid Waste Master Plan and supporting projects. Additionally, $3 million will be allocated to the Energy Management Investment Strategy to implement energy conservation measures in City facilities.

Recognizing the great need for emergency preparedness, the City is also allocating approximately $3 million for weather preparedness, including a Wet Weather Infrastructure Management Plan and flood plain mapping. Draft Budget 2024 also includes more than $1 million to invest in emergency management at the City, including backup generators for emergency reception lodging, as well as capacity building in the Office of Emergency Management.

Other highlights include:

• $2.6 million for the design of priority ByWard Market Public Realm projects, including the revitalization of William Street, ByWard Market Square and the redevelopment of the 70 Clarence Street municipal parking garage
• $800,000 for annual operating support for the ByWard Market District Authority
• $250,000 for continued funding for Invest Ottawa to deliver enhanced entrepreneur and knowledge-based sector programs
• $65,000 for continued funding for the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition to support development and promotion of live music sector
• $50,000 for continued funding for the Ottawa Film Office to support enhanced production attraction, destination marketing and industry development initiatives such as new soundstage development.

The proposed budget will be considered by all standing committees in the coming weeks, and then Ottawa City Council on Wednesday, Dec. 6. Residents have many ways to continue to have a say about Draft Budget 2024:

• Submit your ideas directly to your Ward Councillor.
• Visit Engage Ottawa for an up-to-date list of Councillor-led budget consultation sessions and to ask any budget related questions.
• Register as a public delegation to make a five-minute presentation at a budget review meeting of any standing committee, board or commission. Visit ottawa.ca/budget to learn about meeting dates.
• Follow and communicate with us on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter)using the hashtag #OttBudget.
• Call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401). Rural residents call 613-580-2400.