City council in Aylmer

Mayor delivers glowing financial report

During the city council meeting in Aylmer, October 18, Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin set out the overview of the city’s 2016 financial position. Under the provincial Cities and Towns Act, he must do this before the city can draft a new budget for next year.

He first noted that the city continues investing in infrastructure, thanks to the dedicated infrastructure tax and various subsidies. He added that the administration anticipates a surplus of between $5 and $6 million for 2016, less than 1% of the city’s budget. The surplus is due to property taxes and transfer taxes which were higher than expected, plus savings on debt repayment.

Mayor Pedneaud-Jobin told the packed chamber, “Our goal was to remain within our priorities, set at the start of the mandate. This was followed by the smallest increase in expenditures in Gatineau's history. We adopted a revenue diversification plan. As we work on the 2017 budget, the Council Program and the principles we identified remain relevant.”

Councillor Denis Tassé, the chair of the Comité des immobilisations et du budget, added, “Gatineau's management of public funds is supported by the Commission de révision des dépenses et des services and the Comité du budget et des immobilisations. We have been able to maximize public funds and invest in services to
residents.”