Mayor Linda Jeffrey opened budget deliberations last week, talking up efforts to get Brampton back on the right financial track. Council has moved on many of the recommendations set out by former Ontario auditor general Jim McCarter last year to improve Brampton’s financial health, including imposing a two per cent special levy to bridge a massive infrastructure gap.

But with taxpayers facing a third consecutive budget increase above the inflation rate, some items taxpayers are being asked to pay for next year are raising eyebrows.

Earlier this week, The Guardian revealed plans to spend $200,000 for a new fitness area for employees.

“This doesn’t send a good message when we are looking to raise taxes,” said Regional Coun. Martin Medeiros.

Meanwhile, the city is carry millions of dollars in debt including the cost of its new downtown administrative space.

The city also pulled the trigger on a massive overhaul of its bureaucracy that is expected to cost taxpayers $4 million upfront to cover severances.

In order to keep a handle on the tax hike, the city is looking at holding up spending $2.5 million over two years in upgrades to the aging Lester B. Pearson Theatre.

Information provided only to councillors describes a laundry list of much-needed fixes and upgrades to the theatre, which is housed in the Brampton Civic Centre.

The budget document also proposes a $550,000 (2017-2018) expenditure needed to move the city’s fleet of IT staff to the Brampton Civic Centre.

On Dec. 14, Brampton council will meet to vote on the 2017 financial document, which includes an operating budget of $631.6 million and $183.3 million for capital expenditures.

At 3.6 per cent, an average home assessed at $443,000 will pay $115 more in city taxes next year.

When blended with the Region of Peel and school boards, the overall tax impact on residents is a 2.5 per cent increase on the 2017 bill.

On top of that, residents can expect to pay $33 more to the region next year for water, up to $622, based on average consumption of 290,000 litres.