Budget Planning for 2020 Underway at City Hall

On December 9, 2019, St. John’s City Council will announce its budget for the 2020 fiscal year which will include setting the mill rates and water tax for residential and commercial property owners.

Budget 2020 is year two in the City’s three-year budget plan for 2019-2021. In 2018, the City conducted an extensive public engagement process that began with a Citizen Satisfaction Survey and included over 1500 visits to engagestjohns.ca, multiple in-person sessions, a household mailout, Facebook live opportunities and several public meetings.

“As a result of the extensive engagement undertaken in 2018, Council and staff were able to prepare a comprehensive three-year strategy that has required only minor adjustments as we prepare for the 2020 budget,” said Councillor Dave Lave, lead Councillor for Finance and Administration. “Furthermore, sound fiscal management, combined with lower projected costs in areas such as electricity, have put us in a good position as we finalize the 2020 plan.”

In 2019, Council projected marginal increases in mill rates and water tax for both 2019 and 2020.

“I am pleased to say that we are working diligently towards having no mill rate increases for 2020,” said Councillor Lane.

Members of the public are encouraged to contact their Councillor with questions, suggestions and comments on the budget or to email finance@stjohns.ca. Council contact information is available on the City website.

To learn more on how the City budgets, watch “Budget 101” on the City’s YouTube Channel. For the 2019 budget, including 2020 and 2021 expenditure and revenue projections go to stjohns.ca. Budget 2020 will be announced at a regular meeting of Council on December 9, 2019. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, you can watch the meeting live via webcast on the City’s website.