Toronto residents will face a 9% increase in property taxes in 2024, in addition to a 1.5% additional infrastructure fee, according to the preliminary budget presented on Wednesday. This is the largest proposed increase since the municipal merger in 1998.

Overall, residents will have to pay an average of an additional $30 per month if the $17 billion operating budget is approved, according to Budget Chair Shelley Carroll.

On the other hand, public transit fares will be frozen and the police will also receive a slight increase in their annual budget.

He hopes to be able to recommend smaller increases in property taxes in the coming years. He said, "We always try to find the right balance [between budget needs and residents' financial ability]."

Here are the highlights of the proposed 2024 budget: a 9% increase in property tax :

1.5% additional infrastructure fees

An average 3% increase in water station and garbage collection fees

An additional $82 million for shelters and housing for the homeless

An additional $30 million for public transit, including hiring additional special police officers

An additional $20 million for community services, such as extending library hours on weekends

An additional $19 million for public safety, including expanding the library service assistance for disaster-affected people and hiring additional firefighters and ambulance crews.

Canceling the snow removal program for snow accumulation at the end of residential driveways (saving $16 million annually)

In Ontario, the provincial law requires municipalities to have a balanced operating budget every year.

Last year, Toronto used hundreds of millions of dollars from its reserves to balance its budget when the deficit exceeded one billion dollars. However, Ms. Carroll rejected this approach this year. She responded: "You have a new budget chief and a new mayor."

Also, Steven Conforti, the city's Chief Financial Officer, said there are about $200 to $250 million left in reserves that have not yet been allocated.

In Montreal, property taxes will increase by an average of 4.9% this year, while they will rise by 7.5% in Vancouver after a 10.7% increase last year.

More money from Ottawa?

Toronto also continues to demand $250 million annually from the federal government to house asylum seekers and refugees, accusing Trudeau’s government of currently not paying its fair share.

It says this is a federal responsibility.

Carroll also warns that property tax could jump another 6% if Ottawa does not confirm additional support by January 26.