Rawpixel on Unsplash
Budget Plans
The committee overseeing the 2019 budget plans receive reports from various departments starting on January 8th starting at 9:30 AM. On the 10th, the committee will hear from delegations at 9:30 AM and at 7:00 PM. The budget meetings take place in Town Hall's Oakville & Trafalgar Rooms. On January 8th the budget committee receives reports from:
- Finance Department - 2019 Operating and Capital Budget
- Oakville Transit - Specialized Service
- Parks and Open Space Department - Increase Costs of User Fees for Outdoor Playing Fields
- Roads and Works Operations Department - Bulk Loose Leaf Collection Service Expansion
Report Summaries for the 2019 Budget Plans:
Finance Department Key Points
• 2019 operating and capital budget overview presented on December 11, 2018.
• Overall tax levy increase in line with inflation.
• Commissioners' program budgets
Oakville Transit Key Points
• Operating budget includes $3,644,900 for specialized transit services including $1,320,600 for using taxis
• Specialized transit service providers are subject to the both the Ontario Human Rights Code as well as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The act prohibits means testing and limits discretion in the provision of specialized transit service. It allows delivery of conventional accessible services for specialized transit trips. Under the act, transit service providers can not limit or restrict ride requests.
• Oakville Transit employs a very rigorous application review process that is consistent with AODA Integrated Regulation requirements
• Taxis provide about 50% of its ride requests.
• Taxi costs increased from $210,096 in 2010 to a projected $1,174,694 in 2018
• Oakville Transit leverages its existing specialized transit resources to deliver Home to Hub on-demand service
• Specialized transit services cost expected to increase by at least 10%
Parks & Open Space Key Points
• In 2016, the rates for outdoor playing fields lagged well behind the recovery ratios of 50% for youth (CORE) and 100% for adults.
• A 5 year phase-in model gives time for groups to adjust their budgets to meet recovery ratios. This changed to a 7 year period.
• During 2018 season meetings with community sports groups, the groups stated that the field rate increases are financially problematic
• New 10 year phase-in for Youth (CORE) rates recommended
• New recommendation decreases revenue by $21,880 in 2019.
• An additional tax levy of $21,880 required
Road & Operations Key Points
• Leaf collection in the expansion areas remains low vs the high cost.
• The Region of Halton’s bagged Yard Waste collection program, with bi- weekly collection until early December, provides a leaf disposal option for residents.
• Expanding the data analysis including data-sets from Forestry (no. of trees, canopy cover and crown volumes), the staff will report back in 2019 on enhancing potential leaf collection options for three expansion areas. Currently, these areas receive one collection.
• The proposed 2019 budget for the current Bulk Loose Leaf Collection program, Spring and Fall, is $1,093,400.
Finance Department - Public Delegations
The public can present to the committee about the latest 2019 budget plans. There are two meetings scheduled on January 10th: 9:30 AM and another at 7:00 PM.
If you can not attend the January 10th meetings, contact one of the councillors who stand on the budget committee via council@oakville.ca. They are:
- Major Rob Burton
- Ward 6 Regional Councillor Tom Adams - Chair
- Ward 4 Regional Councillor Allan Elgar - Ward 4
- Ward 6 Town Councillor Natalia Lishchyna W
- Ward 1 Regional Councillor Sean O’Meara
Following steps:
- Budget deliberations take place on January 22nd at 9:30 am
- Final budget approval by Council takes place on January 28th at the Halton Regional Centre's Council Chambers starting at 7:00 PM.
Detailed budget information available at Oakville.ca/Budget