Orillia’s approved 2021 budget carries a zero per cent tax rate increase.
A $603,734 contribution from the City’s Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve was used to offset increases in order to achieve it.
“After much deliberation, Council was able to deliver a 2021 budget that continues to offer the same level of service from previous years with no increase to the financial impact on Orillia residents,” says Mayor Steve Clarke. “We know how difficult this past year has been for many, and it is our hope that a zero per cent increase to your municipal taxes demonstrates our commitment to helping you and your family weather the storm. As a municipality, our role is to provide services to citizens and build the infrastructure necessary for a vibrant community and we are very limited in what we can provide in terms of economic and social support. Council continues to make strategic investments in our infrastructure to further economic growth, which will help Orillia emerge even stronger following the pandemic.”
The $62.4 million operating budget includes Orillia’s $7.7 million health and social services contract with the County of Simcoe, which includes a $1.2 million increase in 2021 predominantly attributed to Covid-19; the $8.5 million Ontario Provincial Police contract; continued investment in information technology, and maintaining the level of winter maintenance and implementation of the city-wide LED lighting upgrades.
Orillia’s $28 million capital budget, funded from the capital tax levy, various reserves and grant funding, focuses on the asset management of numerous municipal facilities and public spaces and ongoing investment in transit, road and water/wastewater infrastructure.
Highlights of the 2021 budget include:
- An additional $46,400 in one-time funding was approved from the Covid-19 Social and Economic Recovery Fund to be utilized for all nine outdoor rinks, including a new rink at J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park.
- Continued investment in information technology to further Orillia’s delivery of online services and to automate processes internally.
- $1.2 million in assessment growth revenue (subject to final numbers for assessment growth from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation).
- $20,000 for a New Resident Welcome and Information Program, which includes one-time vouchers for new residents to experience some of the City’s municipal amenities, such as the Leacock Museum and Orillia Recreation Centre.
- Grant to Information Orillia for $25,000.
- $10.6 million for Centennial Drive Area Improvements, which includes the realignment of Centennial Drive/Canice Street corridor from Mississaga Street East to Brant Street East and extension/reconstruction of Mississaga Street East, Coldwater Street and Colborne Street East between Front Street and the waterfront area, and construction of a new sanitary sewer pump station.
- $50,000 for detailed design and construction documents for the proposed improvements to the Terry Fox Circle. Staff will present previous reports and past studies regarding the Terry Fox Circle to Council in January 2021.
- Annual road resurfacing of nine local roads in the amount of $854,000.
- Transit terminal/parking structure design and tender preparation in the amount of $600,000.
- $120,000 to support the development of the City of Orillia’s Climate Change Action Plan, which includes defining greenhouse gas reduction targets and prioritizing actions to be implemented by the City.
- City Centre renovations to improve public-facing counters and meet security and regulatory requirements in the amount of $175,000.
- Couchiching Beach Park Greenhouse and Maintenance Building Replacement in the amount of $750,000.
The 2021 budget excludes the impact from Covid-19 to help stabilize future year budgets and avoid the budget fluctuating as a result of significant unknowns during the pandemic. It’s recommended any budget shortfalls will be absorbed by either provincial/federal subsidies, such as the Safe Restart Grant, or by the City’s Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve.
For more information on the 2021 budget, visit orillia.ca/budget.