Council passes 2019 municipal budget

The 2019 Riverview budget is officially set.

On Monday night, Riverview Town Council unanimously passed the 2019 General Operating Fund, Utility Operating Fund, and 2019 Capital Budgets totaling $44,603,495. Within those budgets, $9.3 million is allocated to general capital projects and $2.5 million will fund water and sewer capital projects.  

Council approved a 0.6 per cent increase to the tax rate to help fund capital budget priorities. The tax rate is now 1.5926 per $100 of assessed value. For a home valued at $150,000, this will mean an extra $1.25 per month. Council set the water and sewer rate to $896 per residential household for 2019.

Investments in 2019 include road infrastructure upgrades and renewals, a new Codiac Transpo bus and funding for more public transit services, replacement of the Lion Ken Gabbey Community Pool, and continued project development for the wellness centre concept.

Planning for the future, Council also approved the Five-Year General Capital Fund Budget and Five-Year Utility Capital Fund Budget, which are driven by the Town’s strategic priorities and will guide financial decision-making through to 2023.

“Riverview delivers an extraordinary level of service that has an impact on people’s quality of life and desire to live in Riverview,” said Mayor Ann Seamans. “Raising the tax rate is a decision that is never made lightly. It comes down to finding a responsible balance between community wants and needs, and building financial stability for the future.”