Victoria residents will have a chance to air their concerns and provide input on the City of Victoria’s 2024 budget this month at a public hearing.
The meeting on the $336-million budget, which proposes a 7.93 per cent tax hike, is set for April 25 at 6:30 p.m. at city hall.
The meeting follows a random telephone survey of 700 residents and a series of focused budget meetings run by community organizations.
City staff have said the cost increases in this year’s budget, which includes $72.1 million for the police force, are largely due to inflation, continued supply-chain challenges and labour shortages.
They say construction costs have increased by nearly 55 per cent over the last six years, and are expected to jump between five and 10 per cent in the next three years.
While inflationary and labour costs resulted in a 5.86 per cent increase in the tax lift, the police budget adds 2.4 per cent.
The city is also considering a capital budget of $153 million to upgrade and rehabilitate infrastructure. That budget is funded primarily through user fees for water and sewer, grants received for specific projects, and reserves.
More than 60 per cent of the capital budget is allocated to transportation, equipment purchases and sewers.
>>> To comment on this article, write a letter to the editor: [email protected]
