2019 Budget and five-year financial plan

2019 Budget priorities

We consulted with residents and businesses and heard back about your most important issues and preferences for City spending. That input was used to identify the following priorities:

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  Increase housing supply and affordability, and improve availability and supports for renters and vulnerable citizens

  Investments approved last year to improve the speed of development permit approvals will continue in 2019.

  This year’s budget also includes significant investments in affordable and social housing, with focus on alleviating homelessness and poverty. The first year of the Empty Homes Tax program generated close to $30 million, with the net revenue earmarked for affordable housing initiatives. With the launch of the short-term rental regulations in 2018, going forward, we expect to see even more rental properties become available to Vancouver residents.

  The effects of the ongoing opioid crisis and other social issues continue to put stress on our systems, our service delivery and our staff. We continue to work with health authorities and other levels of government to manage the impacts of the opioid crisis, while also exploring how we can better support those struggling with addiction and mental health issues.

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  Maintain and improve operations and service levels

  We are making:

  • Needed investments to improve cleanliness and litter pick up on our streets and in our parks
  • Investments in technology upgrades to ensure that we can reliably continue to meet the service expectations of our residents
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  Invest in public safety

  In the coming year the previously approved plan to hire more police officers and additional firefighters will continue to roll out, and funding is in place to operate a drug safe laboratory for handling of opioids and other dangerous substances.

  We will also focus on security and fire safety in parks.

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  Continue to build vibrant communities and public spaces that support arts, culture, and the environment

  Each year Vancouver’s streets, parks, and other public spaces host a number of large events that contribute to the city’s vitality. We are making investments to provide additional services for these types of events, including safety, traffic control and clean up, which will in turn reduce costs to event organizers.

  The operating costs of a new senior centre and three new childcare facilities are included in the budget, along with additional social and cultural grants to enrich the community.

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  Meet our commitments to provide safe and healthy workplaces and public spaces

  We have an obligation to meet regulatory standards and ensure that our staff and members of the community remain safe and healthy. Areas of focus for health and safety investments in the coming year include:

  • Vancouver Civic Theatres
  • The Vancouver Public Library

  We are also planning a major disaster response exercise in 2019 to ensure that our large-scale emergency plans are thorough and tested.