Kitchener councillors set to vote on 2015 budget

Kitchener city council is set to vote on its2015 operating and capital budgets Monday.

Some highlights of the proposed budget are compiled below. For these changes to take effect, they have to be ratified by council.

1. Proposed tax increase of 2.25%

For the average Kitchener home assessed at $269,000, a 2.25 per cent increase amounts to an extra $23.08. The Consumer Price Index for Ontario in 2014 was 2.3 per cent.

2. Proposed water, sewagerate increases of9.9%

Rates for water and sewage are expected to increase by 9.9 per cent each, which will cost the average household $92 more annually.

3. Other expenditures

• $23,588: Increase in funding for street-levelspecial events programming (e.g. Summer Lights, Night\Shift, etc.)
• $100,000: To hire more temporary workers and external services to manage the city's 800 hectares of natural/hazard and park lands, and 60,000 street trees
• $200,000: To restore the Tax Stabilization Reserve Fund, which covers costs from unexpected events, like winter storms.
• $35,700: To create a part time position, Coordinator of Volunteers, who would work toavoiding a predicted decline in volunteers across the city.
• Increasing funding for Leisure Access Card (amount to be determined).
• $11,696: Increase to grant for House of Friendship: ChandlerMowatCommunity Centre, so program coordinator position is full time, rather than part time.