City council made the 2024 budget official on Monday evening.

The financial plan for the next year will see $138.4 million spent with the property tax increase set at five per cent. A total of $55 million of that spending will go toward capital projects. Revenues from taxes, government transfers, user fees and investments has been pegged at $93.37 million.

The final expenditures were reduced from a forecast $143.3 million, while revenues stayed roughly the same.

The original forecast property tax rate was set to be 16.91 per cent, but that was reduced to 7.22 per cent when $3.5 million was transferred from the general fund. There was a further whittling down from there to reach five per cent.

Kavi Pandoo, the citySA国际影视传媒檚 director of corporate services, said $75,000 was removed from the citySA国际影视传媒檚 economic development strategy (which has been deferred to 2025), along with $100,000 subtracted for a consultant to review the Street Outreach Program.

A $50,000 contribution for the Capital Area Committee was also scrapped and the Heritage CommitteeSA国际影视传媒檚 budget saw a $10,000 reduction. A further $25,000 was taken out by deferring consultantSA国际影视传媒檚 fees related to traditional structures in the city.

A nearly $40,000 bump in ambulance fees is projected. Those fees have increased to $500 for NWT residents (up from $402.50) and $575 for non-NWT residents (up from $460).

But Coun. Steve Payne moved to decrease the tax hike even further, which could be done by reducing the amount of tax revenue directed to the capital fund. That motion, which passed unanimously, saw $513,000 transferred.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 an expectation from city residents for us to do everything we can to keep this tax rate under control,SA国际影视传媒� said Payne in explaining his rationale for the motion. SA国际影视传媒淚 think five per cent is not a terrible tax rate to have for this year, considering what so many municipalities around Canada are proposing right now. Five per cent is not ideal SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot better than 7.22 and slightly better than 6.42 SA国际影视传媒� but five per cent is a good whole number.SA国际影视传媒�

Mayor Rebecca Alty said the move was good to help balance things in the long-term and short-term.

SA国际影视传媒淭he fact that we will be reducing taxes actually from 16 per cent down to five per cent is pretty substantial,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎t the same time, through some heavy lifting, weSA国际影视传媒檝e increased the capital fund closing balance to a good, healthy position of $16.6 million. Being able to have a bit more room in the capital fund for the future is that balance that residents are going to need.SA国际影视传媒�

Some other items that were cut from the budget this year include $400,000 that was earmarked for the Niven Lake Ravine Trail sludge project; $250,000 for the Niven Lake Trail paving project and $1 million for the water submarine line replacement project.

A total of $1.5 million worth of whatSA国际影视传媒檚 known as SA国际影视传媒榗arry forwardSA国际影视传媒� projects was also released to be put into the capital fund to help build the balance.