Kitchener approves its 2023 budget, which includes 4.8 per cent tax rate increase

Kitchener city council has approves its budget for 2023, which includes a 4.8 per cent tax rate increase and a4.5 per cent water utility increase.

This means the average homeownerwill pay an extra $56 a year in property taxes and anextra $42 for water utilities. The city says it focused its budget on community and affordability, adding that this year's tax increases arebelow inflation.

"Working closely with city staff and fellow councillors, we were able to consider a wide variety of community concerns,"Coun. ScottDavey, who is the chair of the city's finance and corporate services committee, said in a release.

"We've listened to these voices and have come up with a fiscally responsible plan in times of high inflation and soaring construction costs."

The budget also allocates $1 million ofannual investments toparks, trails and playgrounds.

Council set aside another $1.5 million fortraffic calming, parks and playgrounds, free recreational programming, paving of trails, as well asarts and culture.

The budget also included grants for initiatives like Love My Hood and RISE Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Equity and funding for the review of the city's lodging house bylaw.

The city said the investments were made in responsetocommunity feedback during the election and the 2023 budget input process.

"Council worked hard to balancevarious community priorities while completing their first budget of the 2023-2026 term,"Kitchener Mayor BerryVrbanovicsaid in a release.

"It reflects the community priorities identified through staff's extensive consultation with residents and councillors' conversations with their constituents."