No property tax increase for Windsor for 7th straight year

For the seventh consecutive year, Windsor city councillors did not approve a property tax increase.

• Water World to remain open until end of June

The 2015 city budget was approved Monday night, after nearly eight hours of delegations and deliberations.

The streak could soon be in jeopardy, the city's treasurer warned.

Onorio Colluci says "it will be extremely difficult" to do it again next year. He expects "modest increases" are on the horizon.

"There are many things that would be great to do, but when you're trying to hold the line, it's not like you're cutting services, but we can't add a lot of things, because we already have lots of pressure," Colluci said.

The city will spend $746 mllion on its operating budget this year.

Capital expenditures have doubled since 2001, rising to $98.5 million this year, up from $48.5 million in 2001.

Highlights in the budget include:

• Adie Knox Arena keeping its ice for now.
• Water World staying open through June, as the city looks for alternative sites for dozens of community programs offered by the Wyandotte Street East recreation centre.
• $100,000 for the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.
• Free one-hour parking at downtown parking garages until the end of the year.