How the 2025 Ottawa budget could impact your wallet

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The City of Ottawa’s draft budget is one of the “most complicated” in many years, according to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.

But when you try to simplify it, Ottawans will be paying more on property tax, a higher bill for garbage, more in fees to remove a tree, and much more to use public transit—especially seniors.

Here’s a simple look at how the 2025 budget will affect your wallet:

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Urban home, property tax

In the 2025 draft budget, the city lists the average tax assessment of an urban home at $415,000. Depending on the value of your home, the following numbers can be higher or lower, but if we use $415,000 as a baseline, you’ll be paying $4,465 in property tax.

Compared to 2014, that includes an $80 increase in city-wide taxes; a $20 increase to the police levy; and an extra $68 to the transit levy.

That adds up to about $168 more on your property tax bill next year.

Rural home property tax (in an area that includes Para Transpo and reduced transit service)

Using a home assessment of $415,000, you’ll be paying $3,622 in property taxes next year.

Compared to 2014, that includes a $75 increase in city-wide taxes; a $20 increase to the police levy; and an extra $18 to the transit levy.

That adds up to about $114 more on your property tax bill next year.

Rural home property tax (in an area that only includes Para Transpo)

Using a home assessment of $415,000, you’ll be paying $3,436 in property taxes next year.

Compared to 2014, that includes an $75 increase in city-wide taxes; a $20 increase to the police levy; and an extra $5 to the transit levy.

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That adds up to about $100 more on your property tax bill next year.

Commercial properties

For commercial properties, the increases are more substantial. If we take an average assessment of $460,000, the property tax bill next year will be $9,593. That includes an increase in city-wide taxes of $172, an added $43 to the police levy, and an extra $147 to the transit levy.

That adds up to about $361 more on your commercial property tax bill next year.

Funding the Police

Estimated tax increase for average household: $20

Expected increase for the average commercial property: $43

How much more will it cost to ride OC Transpo?

In simple terms, the draft budget says it’ll cost 19 cents more for the average transit ride. The normal fare will rise to $4, those paying cash will have to pay $4.05.

But the changing cost of riding the bus or LRT won’t impact all locals equally. (Seniors, brace yourselves.)

Those 65 years of age and older will now have to pay $108 for a monthly pass in 2025, more than double the $49 cost in 2024.

An adult monthly pass will increase about 5 per cent to $135 from $128.75 .

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Compared to 2024 prices, a three-day transit pass will cost an extra $1.50, a five-day pass will cost $2 more; and a seven-day pass will cost an additional $2.50.

Other passes, including the community monthly pass, the access monthly pass and the EquiPass will not increase in price.

A higher price on trash

Garbage user fees for a single-family household will increase to $243, a 67.6 per cent increase compared to 2024. For multi-residential households, user fees will increase to $167, an 83.5 per cent increase compared to 2024.

The increased cost of drinking water

User fees for drinking water will increase by two per cent.

Some services, such as private service connection and thawing services have gone from a flat fee to an hourly cost, plus a 15 per cent administration fee.

Other fees such as inspection fees and meter service maintenance and inspection fees are also increasing. The cost of inspecting a new water meter will increase to $138 from $115, for example. The cost of a new water meter will increase, depending on the size of the meter. The smallest meter will increase to $481 from $435.

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Stormwater spending

Annual stormwater user fees will increase by 12 per cent across the board, to $235.10 from $209.91 for an urban or rural single-family or semi-detached household and to $117.56 from $104.96 for an urban or rural townhouse or apartment.

Residential non-connected homes and industrial, commercial and institutional connected and unconnected units will also face a 12 per cent increase.

An added price on false alarms for fire and emergency services 

Repeated false alarms will cost you starting in 2025. A second false alarm within a calendar year will cost $500, a third false alarm will cost $1,000 and a fourth and subsequent false alarm will cost $1,500. There will also be an additional 15 per cent administration fee.

Want to remove a tree? 

The cost of some forestry services are rising. The application fee for a permit to remove a distinctive tree or city-owned tree inside the urban boundary where no development is taking place will increase to $186 from $174.

For an infill development inside the urban boundary, it will increase to $1,056 from $870.

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