Budget 2016-18

The City has a policy of only borrowing to fund capital works when there is cost-shared funding in place.  As an example, if a project costs $10 million and the provincial government is willing to pay for $5 million – the City will borrow its share of $5 million.  With the City’s growing infrastructure demands, do you agree with this policy or should the City borrow more aggressively? Please provide your comment.

The City's Capital Works Plan outlines an ambitious 10-year plan and highlights some of the key needs in the City, from water and waste water initiatives, transportation studies, buildings, enhancements to parks and recreation facilities, roads and bridges, and waste management. What matters most to you from a Capital Works perspective? Where would you like to see your Capital dollars spent? Why?

The City of St. John's manages a suite of programs and services - some geared at residents and some supporting the economic vitality of the City. Click on the links below to read more about the City's programs and services:

• General Administration
• Waste Management and Water Supply
• Roads and Transportation
• Protective and Enforcement Services
• Recreation and Parks
• Community Development
• Community Investment

Residents have access to programs and services at a variety of community facilities such as Wedgewood Park, H.G.R. Mews, and Southlands Community Centre to name a few.

The City operates tourism information service centres in Quidi Vidi and Downtown St. John's and supports tourism and culture programming and product development for the benefit of tourists and locals.

The City runs a business centre which helps those interested in starting a business in the City access the right people and processes. 

The City produces data used by the community - demographic profiles, population projections, business registration and directories - and guides the City's economic development strategy, Roadmap 2021.

Please feel free to comment on any of the City's programs and services.

Sale of goods and services, and user fees (not including transit) account for 7%, or $16.28 million of the City's total revenue. These fees include everything from recreation fees and permit fees, to parking and facility rentals. Increasing these fees and/or creating new user fees could allow the City to maintain a lower tax rate, or it could result in the provision of additional services.  Do you support an increase in such fees? Please provide your comment.

Approximately 73% of the City's revenue comes from taxation (residential and business realty tax, water sales and tax, accommodation tax, and utility tax). Other sources of revenue include grants in lieu of tax, sale of goods and services, licenses, permits, fines, rents and concessions, investment interest, interest on tax arrears, and provincial and federal government grants. Aside from those sources listed above, are there other revenue sources we should be looking at?

Thinking into the future, what types of programs, services or facilities would you like to see in the City of St. John's? Please provide your comment.