Green bonds, massive projects, finding "talents," tax freeze….

Are you having trouble understanding the financial promises of the main candidates for Ottawa mayor? You are not alone. The three main candidates have very different spending plans. This brief summary will help you keep them straight.

Op Chiarielli, who served as Ottawa mayor for two terms and was the regional chair before the 2001 merger, gave voters the least details about his spending plans. That is because there is nothing, at least not immediately. Chiarielli says life has become too expensive for far too many residents.

If elected, he says he will freeze taxes in the first year. It’s not an empty promise. Chiarielli froze tax increases throughout his first term as mayor in 2001-04. He also promises to have an outside expert conduct a comprehensive spending review of the city within the first 100 days of taking office to find savings that won’t affect core services.

Chiarielli promises a spending freeze in 2023 at 2022 levels and a suspension of "massive projects" such as building new roads or redeveloping TD Place at Lansdowne Park. He also wants to delay the city’s planned $1 billion spending on electric buses for OC Transpo.

Kathryn Makini, a city councilor since 2014 running for mayor for the first time, promises annual property tax increases of three percent. At the same time, Makini, who uses they/them pronouns, says city services will not be cut. Among Makini’s main spending promises is accelerating 25 years of planned city investment in cycling infrastructure to four, funded by a $250 million "green bond" issuance.

Makini also plans to spend $288 million over the next four years to freeze OC Transpo fares while providing free transit to those 17 and under. Makini’s financial plan, the most detailed among the top three candidates, was approved by Kevin Page, former parliamentary budget officer and current head of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy at the University of Ottawa. Page said the plan showed that "a high level of transparency enhances discussion about policy, accountability and trust."

Mark Sutcliffe says he will keep tax increases between 2.0 and 2.5 percent in his first two years in office while protecting and investing in the city’s critical infrastructure. The first-time candidate says he will target the same goal in later years but acknowledges that inflation and economic uncertainty make that uncertain. Sutcliffe says he is confident that a city spending review can find between $35 million and $60 million in savings, about one percent of the current budget. These savings, along with growth expectations and tax revenue from his promised targets, will fund his spending promises.

Among Sutcliffe’s big-ticket items are $25 million for road, sidewalk and bike lane repairs and improved snow removal, $5 million for a one-year transit fee freeze at least, and $4 million to improve social services. He says the money promised for 100 new police officers will come from increased tax revenues from growth. Sutcliffe says he won’t let any city worker lose their job but plans to reduce the city workforce by about 100 people annually through attrition and retirement.

Page weighs in on Sutcliffe’s financial plan as well, describing the promise to limit taxes as "fiscal responsibility."

Property taxes Chiarielli: zero increase in the first year

Makini: limit annual increase to 3.0 percent

Sutcliffe: increase limit to 2.0-2.5 percent in first two years; aims to reach that target in later years.

Chiarielli’s return: with no tax increase, first term revenues will be limited to economic growth and unspecified savings from the city spending review.

Makini: the tax increase, representing growth and inflation expectations, will provide the city a free balance of $267 million. Makini says the city has a reserve fund exceeding requirements by $205 million and proposes using $90 million of that to pressure unexpected inflation.

Sutcliffe: a 2.0 percent tax increase will generate $40 million in revenue, while growth will add another $40 million in revenue. Cost savings

Chiarielli: conduct a comprehensive city spending review within 100 days of taking office; delay the planned $1 billion electric bus purchase. Makini: no cuts in city spending. Sutcliffe: independent spending review aiming to save $35 million to $60 million; eliminate 100 city jobs annually through attrition.

Transportation Chiarielli: no new roads built in the first year with focus on "fixing what we have"; use photo radar and parking ticket revenues to fix roads. 250

Makini: million dollars over four years for cycling infrastructure, funded by "green bond" issuance Sutcliffe: $25 million annual funding to improve roads, sidewalks, bike lanes, and winter snow and ice removal; $1.2 million annually for additional traffic calming.

Transit Chiarielli: comprehensive OC Transpo operations review started within 100 days of taking office.

Makini: $288 million to increase transit operations, freeze transit fees, provide free transit for those 17 and under, and reduce Equipass costs for low-income residents. Sutcliffe: $5 million to freeze transit fees for at least one year.

Police Chiarielli: acknowledges Ottawa has "one of the lowest police per capita rates" of any Canadian city but doesn’t offer any financial commitment.

Makini: police work is not mentioned, though Makini does not support the "defund the police" movement.

Sutcliffe: 100 new officers over the next four years, paid for by expected revenues; open a police station in the ByWard Market. Social services

Chiarielli: pledges spending freeze "except for those deemed necessary in health, safety, social services, and quality of life for seniors."

Makini: focused on ending the housing crisis with $13 million to help homeless and at-risk families through rent subsidies, with funds from the federal housing strategy to increase housing stock ≥ Sutcliffe: $4 million to fund city agencies targeting mental health and drug and alcohol addiction; Chiarielli: $500,000 to help seniors defer property tax payments.

Makini: $10 million to keep beaches and pools open longer and open public library branches on Sundays. Sutcliffe: $2 million to reduce children's recreation fees by 10 percent.

Editor: Yusra Bamtaf