JOHN JANTAK
The 1510 West

Homeowners in Ste. Anne de Bellevue will see their tax bills increase an average of 5.5 per cent this year after council adopted its $23.19-million budget for 2024 last month.

The residential property tax rate for this year has been set at $0.7221 per $100 of valuation, up from the 2023 rate of $0.6755.

For the owners of an average residence valued at $575,000, they will receive a tax bill of $4,152 this year, an increase of $268 compared with 2023. 

The town’s share of expenses to the Montreal agglomeration, including potable water this year, increased by $599,800, a hike of 5.9 per cent compared with 2023. The total amount set aside for the agglo is just over $10.7 million and represents 46.2 per cent of the town’s total operating budget this year.

The 46.2-per-cent increase represents the fourth highest percentage jump in agglo charges among the 15 demerged municipalities on the Island of Montreal.

In terms of local improvements planned, Ste. Anne will make significant investments in its parks and playgrounds this year as part the city’s triennial program, which also includes repairs to streets and municipal buildings.

The city has set aside $1.5 million for phase 2 of work that will take place at Robillard Park, $1.57 million for the construction of an open pavilion at Lalonde Park and the relocation of the parking area at the park, and $1.4 million for the redevelopment of Aumais Park to include water games, and new tennis and pickleball courts.

Improvements to the city’s road infrastructure include $750,000 to repair the intersection at Garden City Avenue and Pacific Avenue and $350,000 for the installation of permanent traffic lights on Anciens-Combatants Avenue at the east side entrance to the new Dev Méta Clinic.

The town has also allocated $3.2 million for the renovation of Industriel Boulevard and Daoust Street from Chemin Ste. Marie to the end of the existing sidewalk on Daoust Street.

Work slated for the village area includes $1.5 million earmarked for upgrades to the waterfront boardwalk and retaining wall as part of flood mitigation measures at the Lalonde parking lot, and $1.5 million to repair the retaining wall and paving stones at Kelso Park, which is also being done to reduce the risk of flooding.