Budget

Each year, Council ratifies the City of St. John's' annual budget and sets the mill rates in December for the upcoming year. The budget outlines the City's projected revenues and expenditures for the fiscal year.

Current Annual Budget

On December 12, 2022, Council approved Budget 2023, which includes measures to address inflationary pressures without increasing property taxes.

Read the 2023 Budget Book

The 2023 Budget for the City of St. John’s is balanced at $333,282,356, an increase of 4.3% over 2022.

Mill rates for residential and commercial property owners stay the same in 2023 as in 2022: 8.3 mills for residential and 26.9 mills for commercial. Water tax, however, will increase by $45 and commercial water usage rates will rise 7.1%.

“Inflationary pressures being felt in the community are also impacting the City as an organization.” said Councillor Ron Ellsworth, lead councillor for Finance. “We cannot hold the line on inflation, but we can use savings achieved from prudent fiscal management in previous years to help bridge us through this year’s expenses without increasing the property tax burden on residents.”

Previous Annual Budgets

View our previous annual budgets:

Capital Budget

The City's Capital Out of Revenue program is determined annually and funded primarily from the City's annual operating budget, as well as other sources. This program is different from the City's larger cost-shared capital arrangements with the Federal and Provincial Governments, for which the City borrows its share of the cost.

Capital projects cover a wide range of services including transportation improvements, water and sanitary service upgrades, housing projects, capital grants to community groups, snow clearing equipment, and playground infrastructure.

2023 Capital Budget

On February 27, 2023, City Council voted to approve the capital budget for 2023, totaling $17,329,041. Capital projects cover a wide range of services including transportation improvements, water and sanitary service upgrades, housing projects, capital grants to community groups, snow clearing equipment and playground infrastructure.

“The identified projects for 2023 address high priority areas,” explained Councillor Ron Ellsworth, Council Lead for Finance and Administration. “In 2023, $7.6M has been earmarked to purchase new equipment to replace our aging fleet and to support Council’s commitment to improved sidewalk snow clearing. We are also pleased to be meeting our Canada Games capital commitment and to be proceeding with the design of the Kelly’s Brook shared use path.”

In 2023, some key projects include making intersection improvements at Blackhead Road and Linegar Avenue; upgrading the field lighting at the Caribou Complex; and hiring a consultant to perform a review of the mechanical systems at the Paul Reynolds Community Centre.

The full list of approved capital projects for 2023 includes:

Over $4.3M in construction projects, including the annual grind and patch program to repair city streets; sidewalk, curb and gutter repair; sidewalk infill program; and culvert replacements.
$450K in traffic calming and safety initiatives.
$1.25M for grants, including the Canada Games capital commitment.
Investing $1.4M in City facilities and $7.6M on fleet acquisition, sidewalk tractors and survey equipment.
$1.33M in park projects.
$400K in information technology projects.

The City’s Capital out of Revenue program is determined annually and funded primarily from an allocation from the City’s annual operating budget, as well as other sources. This program is different from the City’s larger cost-shared capital arrangements with the Federal and Provincial Governments, for which the City borrows its share of the cost.

2022 Capital Budget

On March 15, 2022, City Council voted to approve the capital budget with some projects funded from the Parks and Open Spaces Reserve totaling, $13,795,655.

“The identified projects for 2022 address high priority and high demand projects,” explained Councillor Ron Ellsworth Council Lead for Finance and Administration. We are also pleased to announce that funds from our Parks and Open Space Reserve will be used to begin construction on a new Pump Track in Quidi Vidi and to complete a conceptual design for a skating surface in Bowring Park.”

The full list of approved capital projects includes:

$2,000,000 for grind and patch to repair city streets.
$1.1M for new sidewalks and the repair of existing ones.
$500,000 for capital grants to community groups.
$4,400,000 has been allocated for much need fleet replacement in 2022.
$750,000 towards our three year, $3M Canada Games capital commitment.

The City continues its commitment to transportation projects, including:

$50,000 for Audible Pedestrian Signal (APS) systems at two intersections.
$200,000 towards the Traffic Calming Program to support ongoing initiatives based on the Traffic Calming Policy priority list.
$100,000 for the Intersection Safety Program, which assesses and prioritizes roadway safety improvements.
$50,000 for Uninterruptable Power Supply at Key Intersections.
$50,000 to provide for coordination of traffic light signals along key corridors.

$2M remains uncommitted for 2022. The Parks and Open Spaces Reserve contained a balance of $1.29M on December 31, 2021. The balance after the 2022 commitments is $842,267.

2021 Capital Budget

On March 18, 2021, St. John's City Council voted to approve the capital budget for 2021 which totals $25,971,851.

“The identified projects for 2021 address high priority areas and ensure we are making every effort to protect the integrity of our infrastructure,” explained Councillor Shawn Skinner, Council Lead for Finance and Administration. “With previously committed items aside, a net of $14.45 million has been identified in available funding for 2021 projects.”

The full list of approved capital projects for 2021 includes:

$2,000,000 for grind and patch.
$700,000 for sidewalk, curb and gutter repair.
$500,000 for capital grants to community groups.
$1,341,938 has been allocated for projects delayed in 2020, including a replacement of the City's website; Phase 2 of the Wetland Study; and decorative lighting for the downtown.
$1.6 M of the Parks Reserve funding for 2021 will be allocated to Phase 1 of the Galway Park project.

2020 Capital Budget

On March 9, 2020, St. John's City Council voted to approve the capital budget for 2021 which totals $24,549,379.

“The identified projects for 2020 address the highest priority areas and ensure we are making every effort to protect the integrity of our infrastructure,” explained Councillor Dave Lane, Council Lead for Finance and Administration. “With previously committed items aside, a net of $10.6 million has been identified in available funding for 2020 projects.”

The full list of approved capital projects for 2020 is available online and includes:

Grind and patch: $1,970,000
Snow removal/dumping and sidewalk snowblowers and plows: $2,306,000
Capital grants to community groups: $800,000
Sidewalk/curb/gutter repair: $650,000
Bike St. John's Master Plan – project: $378,000
Downtown decorative lighting: $292,000

Parks Reserve funding for 2020 will include the city's contribution to the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Park at Mundy Pond ($300,000); Bowring Park Observation Decks ($45,000); a McNiven Place to Durness Street trail connection ($100,000); and Victoria Park Revitalization - Phase 3 ($150,000).