JOHN JANTAK
The 1019 Report
The owners of an average single-family home in Vaudreuil-Dorion will see their property taxes rise by 8.5 per cent in 2024, according to the town’s new $110.7-million budget adopted during a special council meeting last week.
The value of an average single-family home, pegged at $419,200, will be assessed a municipal tax bill of $2,586 next year, which is $196 more than $2,420 in taxes for a property of the same value this year.
The residential property tax rate for 2024 has been set at $0.5984 per $100 of valuation. Last year, it was $0.5515. Included in the calculation of each tax bill is a $275 water tax, which remains unchanged from this year.
Overall, municipal spending in 2024 will increase by $9 million compared with 2023, which represents 8.8-per-cent increase.
Among the biggest expenditure items, the city will allocate just under $5.3 million for snow removal services, up almost $700,000 from $4.6 million spent in 2023, an increase of just over 15 per cent. The amount for Sûreté du Québec services will rise to $7.25 million, up almost nine per cent from the $6.6 million set aside this year.
During the special meeting, the council also approved the city’s five-year capital expenditures program. The plan will see $114 million invested in 2024 on various infrastructure projects, including $15.7 million for the widening of Cité des Jeunes Boulevard, a project that will be carried out over the next three years.
The city’s fixed expenditures, which include salaries, debt servicing, police services and snow removal, represents 88 per cent of the 2024 budget, said city treasurer Marco Pilon. The budget also includes nearly $1 million in financial assistance for citizens and organizations.
Even though property taxes and water rates are among the lowest among similar cities, the city will face budgetary challenges over the next two years because of inflation and higher interest rates.
“Subsequently, significant cash inflows are expected, including income linked to the arrival of the hospital in 2026,” said Marco Pilon.
The city’s budget issues also means certain activities in 2024 will be rigorously analyzed to cut costs, including its annual Circus Festival, said Mayor Guy Pilon.
“It will take place but in a more modest version,” he said. Maybe we will simply have a holiday with shows, fireworks, rides and food offerings.”
“Other activities that had a low participation rate will be withdrawn in order to focus on programming that reaches a larger number of people, like the 405 Park, Summer Rhythms or our day camps,” he added.