EDMONTON - Edmonton homeowners could face the largest tax hike in five years as the city deals with the multimillion-dollar cost of operating new libraries, recreation centres and other facilities.

The 2014 civic budget released Friday proposes a 5.5-per-cent property tax increase to pay rising wages, repair neighbourhoods and hire 334 staff.

That translates into a possible $106 increase for the average homeowner, although councillors usually make cuts before budgets are approved in December.

About half that total is needed to run the Lewis Farms firehall, NAIT LRT line, three libraries and the Meadows and Clareview recreation centres, all of which open in 2014.

“We believe we have come in with a fair and reasonable budget for the beginning of council deliberations,” chief financial officer Lorna Rosen told a news conference.

“It was a really tough budget year.”

Staff found the required funding without cutting public services, she said.

Instead, they came up with about $8 million through such moves as increased Internet use so fewer workers are needed for next year’s census.

One of Mayor Don Iveson’s campaign promises was to create annual efficiencies worth two per cent, or $20 million, during council’s four-year term.

Rosen expects this goal can be reached over time.

“This was a really challenging year for us because of the operating impacts of capital … We still managed to find almost one per cent,” she said.

“If we have enough lead time and actually look at (ideas such as) process improvement, alternative service delivery … I’m sure we can work with council to achieve Mayor Iveson’s goals.”

Iveson agreed it will be hard to hit his target with the current budget.

“They have been working all year to find the efficiencies that are in here … When I talked about council’s two per cent, that’s really something council is going to get started with along with administration in future years.”

He said all council members heard “loud and clear” that voters want infrastructure to be a priority.

“The biggest chunk of this budget is lights-on funding for new recreation centres people have been demanding, new libraries in parts of the city people have been demanding, and lights-on funding for the northwest LRT line.”

The budget includes $32 million to run the new facilities and pay debt-servicing costs.

There’s also money for more lifeguards due to stricter pool safety standards, 31 additional police officers, improved planning services and hosting FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer games in 2014 and 2015.

The last tax increase that came in higher than the current proposal was 2009, when the average levy rose 7.3 per cent.

Police take the largest single slice of the city’s spending, although next year their budget is set to go up just two per cent.

They want funding for four civilian staff as well as the new officers, who will be assigned to patrols and busy units such as homicide and family violence, Chief Rod Knecht said.

“That’s the minimum for us,” said Knecht, who would have liked another 15 officers. “As your city grows, your police service will have to grow.”

They also need eight people to transport prisoners to the northwest remand centre, a roughly $1-million annual cost for which Knecht is still seeking provincial help, possibly by using provincial sheriffs.

Earlier this week, the draft budget for the city’s sewer and garbage utilities proposed a $52 increase in total annual fees for the typical residential customer.

The council utility committee will discuss that document Tuesday, while the overall city operating budget will go to council the following day for an initial presentation.

2014 OPERATING BUDGET

Size: $2.1 billion

Top two sources of city money: Property taxes (58 per cent), user fees, fines and permits (19 per cent)

Top two spending areas: Police (17 per cent), transit (16 per cent)

Total infrastructure spending (roads, transit, rec centres, sidewalks, sewers and other projects) 2004-14: $9.3 billion.

gkent@edmontonjournal.com