Waterloo region taxpayers to pay $78 more in 2020: budget

The average household in Waterloo region will pay an additional $78 next year, according to the region's 2020 budget, which council passed Wednesday evening.

The tax increase of 3.84 per cent is down from the proposed 4.34 per cent, which was presentedin the draft budget in November.

The cost of regional services, such as public transit and paramedic services, make up2.46 per cent of the increase.

The tax hike will pay for two additional 12-hour ambulances and 10 more paramedics.

$8M in transit & climate initiatives

Council also approved 35,000 more hours of transit service.

Sean Strickland, the region's budget committee chair, says the investment will improve service frequency in all three cities.

A total of $8 million will go toward transit and climate change initiatives, which Strickland says is an integral part of the budget.

"We feel that the transit expenditures are a direct correlation to climate action. The more people we get out of cars and into our transit system, the better it is for our environment and reduction of greenhouse gases," said Strickland.

Police budget passed

In 2019, regional council had asked thePolice Services Board to trim it's proposed 2020 budget.

Police came to council with a 1.6 per cent increase in November, but a 1.38 per cent increase was passed on Wednesday. Police spending amounts for the remainder of the $78 taxpayer increase for 2020.

"They were able to find some savings in terms of increased revenue from the government for the Ministry of Attorney General and also they used some reserve funds to help deal with some increased expenditures as well," said Strickland.

Other investments in the regional budget include:

• More personal support workers at Sunnyside Home.
• Funding for the housing master plan.
• Supports to deal with the opioid crisis.

Requestto province

The Region of Waterloo has also sent a list of recommendations to the province, as it considers changes to paramedic services.

The region wants the province to continue sharing the cost of paramedics at a 50/50 rate. But it's asking for more support for offload delays.

Strickland says hospitals need more staff in emergency rooms so ambulances can get in and out quickly.

The region is also asking the province for control overits own dispatch system to decrease the amount of time it takes ambulances to respond to an emergency.