There will be no mill rate increases in the City of St. John’s in the coming year as council tabled its 2020 budget.
The residential rate will remain at 7.7, while the commercial rate will remain at 26.1. The water tax will also remain unchanged.
The budget is balanced at over $305-million, up 0.3 per cent from last year.
Mil rates (both commercial and residential) and water tax will remain unchanged in 2020 @VOCMNEWS @CityofStJohns pic.twitter.com/DW8BAuiSmX
— Richard Duggan (@RDugganVOCM) December 2, 2019
Savings Identified
City departments and programs have identified $4.2-million in savings, achieved in part by an early $5-million contribution to the pension plan deficit, and not needing to borrow money as early as they thought for their share of cost-shared projects.
That borrowing will likely now take place in early 2020.
Public Transit Another Area of Focus
Other highlights include investments in public transit. Starting March 2, a pilot service to Galway will begin, and Metrobus will be free for kids under 12 years old.
On September 7, the city will implement Phase One of the Frequent Transit Network, ensuring “backbone routes” 1, 2, 3 and 10 have 15- and 30-minute headways and service into the evening.
Metrobus’ operating grant will decrease to just over $13-million, while Go Bus’ grant will increase by 11 per cent to over $4-million—to a total of just over $18-million.
In terms of St. John's sports and entertainment, due to the new lease agreement, less artists touring, and a weak canadian dollar, the operating budget for SJSE increasing by $1- million dollars @VOCMNEWS @CityofStJohns pic.twitter.com/trMW6jQMj2
— Richard Duggan (@RDugganVOCM) December 2, 2019
$100,000 to sustainability. A climate emergency was recently announced by city @VOCMNEWS @CityofStJohns pic.twitter.com/KMZrIPdTiP
— Richard Duggan (@RDugganVOCM) December 2, 2019
