Budget

At the meeting of December 12, 2022, City Council adopted the 2023 budget. You can review the council meeting or consult the presentation (in French) broadcast during that evening.

The budget is set at $65,436,016, which is an increase of $3,902,727 (6.34%) compared to 2022 and includes expenditures for direct services to citizens as well as the shares paid to the Agglomération de Longueuil and the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM).

The Ville de Saint-Lambert, as the other related municipalities, collects the taxes required for the Longueuil Agglomeration’s operations, in the form of a contributory “share,” which is paid directly to the Longueuil Agglomeration. For more information, you can consult the Longueuil's website.

The issue of tax equity within the Agglomeration remains unresolved. City Council will continue to work on this front, including actively monitoring expenditures and developing more equitable cost-sharing proposals.

Highlights

In 2023, the tax rate increase will be 6.35%, which is slightly below the rate of inflation.

According to Statistics Canada, inflation in the Montreal metropolitan area last October was 6.7%. This level of inflation puts significant pressure on all municipal spending.

Unlike for other levels of government that are able to levy consumption taxes, price increases do not generate additional revenue for the City. On the contrary, inflation translates into significant increases for all our expenditures such as the waste collection contract, fuel, and equipment maintenance.

The lower-than-expected increase in the share paid to the Agglomeration has nevertheless provided some room to manoeuvre to maintain our local services.

The City is investing additional resources in priority areas to ensure quality services:

  • Public Works: increasing the number of weeks for temporary blue-collar employees to improve the quality of services, including the maintenance of parks, streets, pools, and machinery, snow removal, etc.;
  • Technology: creating an IT department to provide the City with its own independent IT services, made possible due to the termination of the agreement with the cities of Brossard and Boucherville, effective December 31, 2023;
  • Urban forest: investing an additional $235,000 to maintain the urban canopy;
  • Recreation and leisure: increasing the Saint-Lambert Days budget by $50,000 and investing an additional $40,000 for events to stimulate the dynamism and vibrancy of the downtown area;
  • Urban planning: adding two inspectors in the Urban Planning and Permits Department to ensure compliance with the by-laws and improve services to citizens.

Furthermore, the municipal council is maintaining the orientations set out in the previous budget:

  • Continuing the progressive cash payment (PCP) program, set at $3,750,000 in 2023. This program allows the City to pay cash for capital assets planned in the three-year capital expenditure program (PTI);
  • Maintaining the expanded library schedule;
  • Maintaining free access to sports facilities for organizations offering services to young people;
  • Renewing the budgetary envelope to support City organizations;
  • Maintaining free access to public transit for low-income seniors by offering “Accès 65 Hors Pointe” transit passes;
  • Opening the arena during the summer.

Investments

Controlling the debt is the main challenge faced by City Council in terms of the budget, particularly as major investments are essential if we are to continue remedying the cumulative deficit in our municipal infrastructure maintenance in order to ensure ongoing quality of life and security for citizens. Consult the three-year capital expenditure program to find out what projects are planned for this year.

Distribution of revenues

  • In lieu of taxes: MAMH revision in compensation in lieu of taxes, applicable since January 1, 2022.
  • Transfer taxes: Decrease expected due to the slowdown in the real estate market.
  • Subsidies: A Natural Resources Canada grant under the 2 Billion Tree program and an increase in the QST one-point growth share under the 2020-2024 partnership with the Quebec Government.
  • Interest and penalties: Increase in interest income on the bank account.
  • Affectations:
    • End of the contribution from the unallocated operating surplus to fund the budget (-$200K);
    • Financing of non-recurring expenses from the allocated operating surplus ($505K).

2023 budget in $ 2022 budget in $ Difference in $ Difference in %
Taxes - Progressive cash program 3 750 000 3 500 000 250 000 7,14
Taxes - Local services 22 376 848 20 269 039 2 107 809 10,40
Taxes - Agglomeration services 26 312 122 25 337 980 974 142 3,84
Taxes - CMM 676 676 639 908 36 768 5,75
Sector taxes 80 570 88 000 (7 430) -8,44
Water pricing 376 975 377 950 (975) -0,26
In lieu of taxes 1 278 249 1 511 600 (233 351) -15,44
Transfer taxes 4 000 000 4 250 000 (250 000) -5,88
Subsidies 2 060 562 1 800 414 260 148 14,45
Town planning, public works, engineering and environment 437 460 429 488 7 972 1,86
Leisure and community life 447 700 404 700 43 000 10,63
Aquatic and youth 729 569 739 084 (9 515) -1,29
Library, arts and culture 203 326 146 093 57 233 39,18
Tickets 630 000 625 000 5 000 0,80
Interest and penalties 745 500 358 000 387 500 108,24
Others 829 735 831 685 (1 950) -0,23
Affectations 500 724 224 348 276 376 123,19
Total 65 436 016 61 533 289 3 902 727 6,34

Distribution of expenditures

  • Urban Planning: Increase mainly due to the addition of two inspectors and to professional fees in connection with the revamping of the land-use by-laws.
  • Human Resources and training: Increase mainly due to professional fees and the employee training budget.
  • Information Technology: Creation of an IT department, resulting from the termination of the intermunicipal agreement on December 31, 2023. Financing of $305K from the allocated operating surplus.
  • Public Works – Buildings: Increase mainly due to lease agreements signed for the relocation of City Hall. Financing of $200K from the allocated operating surplus.
  • Public Works – Repair: Increase mainly due to the higher cost of fuel as well as of parts and accessories.
  • Public Works – Parks: Increase mainly due to an increase in the number of work weeks for temporary blue-collar employees.
  • Environment, waste and forestry:
    - Increase in the residual materials contract according to the CPI and increase in the amount for fuel surcharge;
    - Increase in the forestry budget to ensure the maintenance of the urban canopy;
    - Continued the 10,000-tree planting project resulting from the grant application to Natural Resources Canada (2 billion trees program).
  • Library, arts and culture: Increase mainly due to the increase in the budget for Saint-Lambert Days and for the organization of additional events.
  • Employer contributions: Increase mainly due to the pension plan. The City will not pay more, but the amortization of the actuarial loss for the year 2022 will result in an accounting expense.
  • Progressive cash payment: Prescribed increase of $250K/year until it reaches $4M in 2024.

2023 budget in $ 2022 budget in $ Difference in $ Difference in %
City council 381 105 386 782 (5 677) -1,47
Grants to organizations and partnerships 105 000 105 000 0 0,00
City Management 357 745 325 926 31 819 9,76
Urban Planing 790 028 591 521 198 507 33,56
Administrative Services (human resources, communications, information technologies) 2 507 073 2 039 662 467 411 22,92
City Clerk and procurement 1 565 599 1 526 183 39 416 2,58
Finance and common expenses 1 014 247 964 194 50 053 5,19
Public works, engineering and environment 13 645 886 12 340 702 1 305 184 10,58
Culture and recreation 4 138 106 3 946 439 191 667 4,86
Employer contributions 3 410 035 2 990 495 419 540 14,03
Progressive cash payment 3 750 000 3 500 000 250 000 7,14
Debt service 6 782 394 6 838 497 (56 103) -0,82
Share - Agglomération de Longueuil 26 312 122 25 337 980 974 142 3,84
Share - Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal 676 676 639 908 36 768 5,75
Total 65 436 016 61 533 289 3 902 727 6,34

Financial reports

Four times a year—in March, June, September and December—in the spirit of openness and accountability towards its citizens, the City prepares reports on its financial statements. These reports are presented and explained during public city council meetings. For the December report, please refer to the annual financial statements (below).

Every year, the Ville de Saint-Lambert prepares a financial report on its fiscal year, which runs from January 1 to December 31. It is tabled at a public meeting of city council as soon as the audit work has been completed.

This report presents financial details pertaining to the municipality’s operations, including the following:

  • assets
  • liabilities
  • revenues
  • operating expenses
  • expenditures and revenues related to capital acquisitions.

The financial report must comply with the standards of the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Occupation du territoire (MAMOT) governing the presentation of municipal financial statements.

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