City Announces No Tax Increases in Balanced 2020 Budget

Today, the City of St. John’s released the details of Budget 2020, the second year in a three-year budget plan for 2019-2021.

“Revenues and expenditures are balanced at $305,578,936, up 0.3 percent from 2019 – a marginal increase relative to the size of the City’s budget,” said Councillor Dave Lane, lead councillor for the City’s Finance and Administration portfolio. “I am pleased to announce that mill rates for residential owners will remain the same at 7.7; commercial property tax will also remain the same at 26.1; and water taxes will remain at the same rate as those set in 2019.”

Key themes for Budget 2020 include fiscal accountability, revised estimates and service enhancements.

Amongst the announcements made as part of the budget are the reinstatement of the art procurement program; additional investment in the Heritage Grants program; and $100,000 towards sustainability, a key focus area in the City’s Strategic Plan as highlighted the recent Climate Emergency declaration by Council.

Council announced investments related to the public transit review, including a new pilot route to provide increase hours of service to Galway; implementing phase one of a Frequent Transit Network with routes that connect key destinations at peak times; and free transit to all children under 12.

“Our goal, as always is to provide high quality services and valuable programs in a fiscally responsible manner,” said Councillor Lane. “We have been listening closely to what matters most to our residents and feel that Budget 2020 is a responsive and responsible budget meets the needs of our City while ensure the sustainability of our operations, now and into the future.”

Full details on the City’s budget are available at stjohns.ca.