After two weeks of deliberations, Orillia’s city politicians have agreed upon a 2023 budget.
As it stands, the budget comes with a $67,155,570 tax levy, an increase of $2 million that translates to a 3.05 per cent tax levy increase over last year.
However, city staff noted that percentage may drop before the budget is ratified on Feb. 27, in part due to a $167,000 grant the city has yet to include in the budget.
“With what's been approved to date, or recommended to council today, we'd be looking at approximately 3.05% (tax levy increase),” said city CFO/treasurer John Henry at the conclusion of Thursday’s budget deliberations.
"(However), there's actually three outstanding items that'll be dealt with on (Feb. 27), and with those ones – if they are approved and included – we'll be at 2.76 (per cent)."
Among the many decisions made, council approved two notable budget increases for road resurfacing and sidewalk replacement this week.
The road replacement program had its yearly budget bumped from $1.08 million to $2.08 million, and an extra $560,000 has been added to the sidewalk replacement program, bringing it from $461,000 to $1.02 million.
“This is one of the No. 1 issues I heard at the door, so I think this is a really good step forward,” said Coun. Luke Leatherdale of the increase to the road and sidewalk budgets.
Council also approved $1.32 million in funds for two new city transit buses, and $54,000 for three new bus shelters, but decided the funds will be held for the near future as the transit advisory committee works on a report examining how to improve the productivity, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of the local transit system.
Council approved more than $30 million for 83 capital projects this week, all of which are listed below:
- Stephen Leacock Museum signage and wayfinding - $50,000
- City-wide customer service - $150,000
- End user technology refresh - $64,000
- IT backup and recovery technology and processes - $30,000
- Rotary Place Wi-Fi proposal - $120,000
- Bill 23 - Development charges financial and process impact Assessment - $40,000
- Sustainable environmental procurement policy - $20,000
- Electronic purchase order system - $22,000
- Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus replacement - $75,000
- Official plan update - $200,000
- City-wide park improvement - $60,000
- Lightfoot Trail resurfacing and repair - $150,000
- Trails wayfinding and regulatory signage - $60,000
- Aqua Theatre seating design - $35,000
- Centennial Park boat launch parking area reconstruction - $1,500,000
- Asset management plan - $75,000
- Audible pedestrian signal upgrades - $50,000
- Sanitary sewer closed circuit television and relining program - $200,000
- Traffic controller upgrade - $150,000
- Biosolids options study - $250,000
- West Orillia standby groundwater well - $150,000
- Outlet 103-4 and 5 - End of Pipe Retrofit - Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan - $100,000
- Centennial Drive area improvements - Phase 3 - $2,650,000
- Tecumseth Street reconstruction - $990,000
- Laclie Street reconstruction - Phase 1 - $6,800,000
- Parking meter replacement - $26,000
- Stormwater infrastructure inventory and condition assessment - $100,000
- Paid boat launch trailer parking - $34,000
- Low impact development best management practice policy - $200,000
- Wyandotte Street reconstruction - $150,000
- Minor drainage maintenance assessment and functional design - $130,000
- Pedestrian signal countdown units - $43,000
- Swinimer Drive and University signalization project - $450,000
- Bayview Sewage Pumping Station upgrades construction - $2,000,000
- Reconstruction of Matchedash Street South - $1,150,000
- Orillia Recreation Centre on/off-site monitoring and maintenance - $115,000
- Stephen Leacock Museum exterior maintenance - $50,000
- Rotary Place maintenance, equipment rehabilitation and replacement - $180,000
- Orillia Recreation Centre maintenance, equipment rehabilitation and upgrades - $230,000
- McKinnell Square Park - washroom building refurbishment - $60,000
- Orillia City Centre - heating, ventilation and air conditioning improvements - $75,000
- Barnfield Point Recreation Centre maintenance and equipment upgrades - $200,000
- Rotary Place roof rehabilitation and replacement - $420,000
- Climate Change Action Plan - Orillia City Centre building automation system upgrade - $460,000
- Physical security risk assessments - recommendations - $465,000
- Climate Change Action Plan - water bottle filling stations - $25,000
- Parks washroom accessibility upgrades - Phase 2 - $40,000
- Climate Change Action Plan - Greenhouse gas facility audits and condition assessments - $125,000
- Orillia Museum of Art and History - Flat roof replacement - $75,000
- Barnfield Point Recreation Centre roof repairs and replacement - $25,000
- Orillia Opera House elevator rehabilitation - $445,000
- Wastewater Treatment Centre outbuildings - roof replacement - $100,000
- Wastewater Treatment Centre lift building door replacement - $25,000
- Orillia City Centre electrical infrastructure upgrades - $105,000
- City Facilities - Unscheduled asset replacement program - $100,000
- Water Facilities - Unscheduled asset replacement program - $75,000
- Wastewater Facilities - Unscheduled asset replacement program - $75,000
- Fleet additions - $270,000
- Fleet replacement - $1,212,000
- Moose Beach splash pad - rehabilitation - $60,000
- Waste disposal assessment - $75,000
- Water assets rehabilitation - $300,000
- Wastewater assets rehabilitation - $600,000
- Wastewater Treatment Centre aeration system dividing wall retrofit - Phase 2 construction - $3,371,000
- Economic development strategy - $55,000
- Printable drop-in website calendar - $20,000
- Natural heritage evaluation - $40,000
- Housing attainable supply action plan with the County of Simcoe - $25,000
- J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park improvements - $200,000
- Legion memorial project - $30,000
- Traffic signal coordination - $100,000
- Orillia Recreation Centre - furniture - $65,000
- Orillia Fire Station 2 fence replacement - $55,000
- Natural asset study - $45,000
- Staff compensation review - $35,000.
- Flood plain mapping - $157,000, with $68,500 funded by a Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Grant.
- Centennial Park Boat Launch parking area reconstruction was approved in the amount of $1,500,000.
- Annual road resurfacing program - $1,080,000, with an additional $1,000,000 from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund.
- Sidewalk Replacement Program - $461,000, with an additional $560,000 from the Federal Gas Tax Reserve.
- Transit shelter program - $54,000.
- Transit equipment replacement - $1,320,000
- Transit electrification and Zero Emissions Study - $60,000.
- Council Chamber audio/visual and accessibility upgrades and refurbishment - $570,000
More details about the above projects may be found in the 2023 draft budget package, though some of these figures have changed since the draft budget’s publication.
All decisions made during budget deliberations are subject to ratification at a special meeting of council Feb. 27.
