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Rockcliffe
park newsletter
MArch 2005
NEWS FROM CITY HALL
Budget – 2005 Results
The 2005 operating budget maintains most City services at current
levels, reinstates some services that had been reduced in 2004,
and provides enhanced service levels in key areas. City Council:
-Added 20 new paramedics for 2005 and 18 new paramedics for 2006;
-Reinstated $500,000 to the Community Funding Program to respond
to new and emerging community needs in Health, Recreation and
Social Services - a program which was eliminated in 2004;
-Provided $148,000 for local day-programs providing food, shelter,
counselling, crisis intervention and other services to citizens
living in isolation, poverty, homeless, substandard housing or
living with mental, physical and emotional health concerns;
-Provided $210,000 to support enhanced Library Services and to
operate a second bookmobile.
The 2005 capital budget provides for several important initiatives
that will bring the City closer to achieving the Ottawa 20/20
vision. Highlights include:
-Moving forward with the Light Rail project;
-Building the Rideau Canal Pedestrian Bridge;
-$1.8 million to expand the Red Light Camera Program;
-Spending over $10 million in lifecycle renewal on general and
heritage buildings.
Property tax increases in 2005 total 3.9% -- 2.4% for City
services, 1.4% for the Ottawa Police, and 0.1% for Conservation
Authorities. Most user fees have been raised by the same percent
as the increase in program costs. Net Water and Sewer rate
increase of 9%.
Other Highlights:
-Crime Prevention: $200,000 and the secondment of 2 full-time
staff positions to establish a permanent crime prevention centre
that will bring together existing agencies, coordinate efforts,
address conditions that contribute to crime, monitor these
programs and report on successes. Consult the report entitled
“Community Crime Prevention - Investing for a Safer Ottawa” at
www.rideau-rockcliffe.com for further information.
-$500,000 for Major and $300,000 for Minor Capital Partnership
Programs which enable the City to enter into joint, cost-sharing
ventures for community projects such as upgrades of clubhouses,
new storage buildings, community centre additions or renovations.
-$173,000 added by City Council motion to fund Adult School
Crossing Guards for 28 additional warranted locations.
More details on the budget results can be found at your web site
(below) by consulting my column for March in the Manor Park
Chronicle.
Councillor Jacques Legendre
I can be contacted by telephone at 580-2483, by fax at 580-2523 or
by email at
jacques.legendre@ottawa.ca
Visit your web site at
www.rideau-rockcliffe.com
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