WATERLOO REGION - The Region of Waterloo plans a 2.74 per cent tax increase for next year, down slightly from 3.08 per cent first proposed when budget deliberations started.

The increase will cost the average household an extra $53.

Most of the savings came from reducing the 2018 levy to pay for light rail, from 1.5 per cent to 1.25 per cent. And that's despite the Ion construction cost increasing by $50 million to $868 million, largely due to delays in vehicle delivery. The added cost is mitigated by an additional $25 million from the province and increased revenue from transit-related development charges.

"We're actually able to decrease the contribution of the taxpayer to Ion," said budget committee chair Coun. Sean Strickland at Wednesday's meeting.

Strickland was pleased with the final budget.

"I think we strike a really good balance in this budget and we're able to accomplish a lot with what I'd say is a nominal tax increase," he said.

Further investment in community services was achieved, including public transit and paramedics. Grand River Transit gets added service hours and MobilityPlus vehicles. Paramedic services are adding two 12-hour ambulances and additional staff, "which will hopefully drive our response times down," Strickland said.

Money was also earmarked for three organizations out of the 2017 budget surplus.

Hospice of Waterloo Region will get the $250,000 it requested to build a new 10-bed hospice in north Waterloo.

The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region will get the $50,000 it asked for to meet the growing demand in the community for sexual assault counselling.

The Fashion History Museum in Cambridge will get a one-time grant of $50,000, down from the $80,000 originally recommended by Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig.

"My concern is losing it to some other community and unless we take some action, I think that's going to happen," Craig told councillors.

The motion passed after a short discussion, with councillors agreeing they should undergo a policy review around funding for cultural organizations.

The region's tax-supported budget for 2018 is about $514 million, including police services.

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"I think it's pretty hard to argue you're not getting good value," Strickland said.

The budget committee passed the 2018 budget on Wednesday afternoon, and then it went to council that evening for final approval.