| It’s budget time once again at City Hall and yesterday the Draft 2022 Budget was tabled at Council. This document is hundreds of pages and over the coming weeks I will be reviewing each page with a critical eye to ensure that your tax dollars are being spent wisely. At a high level, Draft Budget 2022 proposes a 3 per cent overall municipal tax increase which would see the average urban homeowner pay an additional $119 per year. It also proposes a 2.5 per cent transit fare increase, while maintaining the current freeze on the Equi Pass Fare. The Ottawa Police Service also released their draft budget yesterday which proposes a 2.86 per cent increase. Now that the Draft 2022 Budget has been tabled, each budget will be presented at its respective committee or board over the coming weeks. I encourage you to review the budget documents and to participate in the budget process. The Draft 2022 Budget can be viewed here. The schedule for each meeting is as follows: Standing Committee on Environmental Protection, Water & Waste Management, Tuesday, November 16, 9:30 am Transit Commission, Wednesday, November 17, 9:30 am Community & Protective Services Committee, Thursday, November 18, 9:30 am Police Services Board, Monday, November 22, 4 pm Planning Committee, Thursday, November 25, 9:30 am IT Sub-Committee, Monday, November 29, 9:30 am Board of Health, Monday, November 29, 5 pm Public Library Board, Tuesday, November 30, 5 pm Transportation Committee, Wednesday, December 1, 9:30 am Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, Thursday, December 2, 9:30 am Audit Committee, Friday, December 3, 9:30 am Finance & Economic Development Committee, Tuesday, December 7, 9:30 am Council – Budget Consideration, Wednesday, December 8, 9:30 am |