Contact: Stephen Fick, Acting Commissioner of Environment & Infrastructure Services, 905-747-6474, stephen.fick@richmondhill.ca

Project highlights include design of the new Oak Ridges Library, Duke of Richmond North Park and energy-efficient lighting

RICHMOND HILL – Council approved the 2015 Capital Budget of $44.5 million at its meeting on December 15, 2014. The Capital Budget will support 36 new projects, including nine projects with budgets over $1 million each.

“The Capital Budget is extremely important to continue to move Richmond Hill forward,” said Mayor Dave Barrow. “We review and approve the Capital Budget earlier than the Operating Budget so that capital projects have funding in place before the new year. When construction season begins, Richmond Hill will be ready.”

The $44.5 million Capital Budget will be funded through development charges, parkland levies, grants and Richmond Hill’s reserve funds. Unlike the Operating Budget, which will be approved in early 2015, the Capital Budget has no direct impact on property taxes.

Some of the larger projects in the 2015 Capital Budget include:

• Oak Ridges Library - $8.7 million
• Reconstruction of Sunset Beach Road, Park Crescent and Dunn Drive - $5.8 million
• Duke of Richmond North Trail & Park - $2.9 million
• Urban Forest Management and Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Projects - $1.9 million
• Energy-efficient Lighting - $1.2 million

All of the Capital Budget projects will support Richmond Hill’s strategic priorities and align with key Town long-term project plans such as the Official Plan, Transportation Master Plan, Cultural Plan, Parks Plan, Recreation Plan, Accessibility Plan, Library Facility Plan and Environment Strategy. Growth-related projects account for 37 per cent of the 2015 projects, while 63 per cent are maintenance or upgrades of existing infrastructure.

“We want to ensure the best services and quality of life in our Town,” said Brenda Hogg, Budget Chair and Regional & Local Councillor. “This investment of $44.5 million into Richmond Hill will create long-term benefits and meet the needs of the community.”

Along with the Capital Budget, Richmond Hill maintains a 10-Year Capital Forecast to ensure the continued alignment of short and long-term priorities, investment requirements for infrastructure, funding sources and sustainability. Council is reviewing the 10-Year Capital Forecast separately in early 2015.

With the Capital Budget approved, Council and staff will now turn to the public process for developing the 2015 Operating Budget. A public information session will be held at Hillcrest Mall on Saturday, January 17. Residents can also email budget@richmondhill.ca to provide their comments. The Operating Budget is expected to be approved in the first quarter of 2015.

For more information about the 2015 Capital Budget or Operating Budget, including the dates of upcoming Budget Committee meetings, visit RichmondHill.ca/Budget.

Backgrounder: 2015 Capital Budget

Richmond Hill’s annual Budget is comprised of two components, the Capital Budget and the Operating Budget.

Capital Budget
Richmond Hill’s Capital Budget consists of expenses for assets or infrastructure that are typically long-term in nature such as land, buildings, roads, pipes and other equipment in excess of $5,000. The Capital Budget is funded through Richmond Hill reserve funds, development charges and grants rather than from property taxes.

Operating Budget
Richmond Hill's Operating Budget consists of expenses that cover day-to-day activities or operations, including items such as utilities, rent, insurance, staff wages and benefits, program supplies, transportation and repairs. It also includes revenues received from taxes, fees and other items like program registrations. With approval from Council, the Operating Budget establishes the annual tax rate.

Starting in January, each department’s budget is reviewed by the Budget Committee of the Whole (comprised of Council). Once all of the departments’ submissions are reviewed and new items are considered, a consolidated budget is presented.

Reserves
Reserves or Reserve Funds are an important part of the Town's long-range financial planning strategy. Reserves are accounts set up with the approval of Council for specific purposes like repair and replacement of Town-owned assets (e.g. equipment, vehicles and information systems) and infrastructure (e.g. roads, building repairs). They are used to offset impacts and stabilize operating and Capital Budgets, cushioning the impact of major expenditures like road construction projects.


2015 Capital Budget Highlights – $44.5 million

• Sunset Beach Road Reconstruction
• Park Crescent Road Reconstruction
• Dunn Drive Road Reconstruction
• Street Lighting (16th Avenue Illumination; Elgin Mills East Illumination; Bathurst Street Illumination)
• Harding Park East Pond 23-2
• Watermain - Teefy Drive (Bathurst St. to Moodie Drive)
• Intersection widening at East Beaver Creek/East Pearce/Hwy 404 Mid-Block
• Gormley Court Culvert Replacement
• Completion of Subdivision Servicing

Parks and Trails
Existing parks/open space design and construction at $6.3 million

• Beaver Greenway Multi-use Trails
• South Richvale Greenway Multi-use Trails
• Oak Ridges Meadow Park
• Duke of Richmond North Trail
• Duke of Richmond North Park
• Mill Glen Parkette
• Lake Wilcox Youth Area

Facility Repair and Replacement
Facility Projects at $4.9 million

• Operations Centre - Fire Truck Bay Renovation
• Central Library - Emergency Generator Switch Gear Replacement & Capacity Upgrade & Interior Lighting Retrofit Project
• Lois Hancey Aquatic Centre - Water Slide Replacement (Construction) ; Replacement Work to Wave Generating Equipment;
• Interior & exterior Lighting Retrofit Project
• Elgin Barrow Arena - Refrigeration Room Upgrade
• Fire & Emergency Services - Replace Fire Station Signs with LED Signs

Information Technology
Information Technology at $3.1 million

• Class Software Upgrade/Replacement
• Website Strategy Implementation
• Financial Information Management Systems (FIMS) Upgrade
• ReCapp Replacement

• New Oak Ridges Library Building Costs
• General Collection Development

Customer Service

• Installation of new and replacement of existing water meters at $874,000
• Road resurfacing at $995,000
• Replacement of Vehicles & Equipment at $1.3 million
• Waste Water Collection System – Lift Station SCADA Implementation at $635,000