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1 JUNE 2006 Volume 5 - No. 3 A word from the Mayor Budget and taxation Environment A Word From the Mayor The budget impasse: a situation that has lasted long enough As a result of the municipal reconstitution and the creation of an agglomeration council on January 1, 2006, Longueuil's taxpayers, as well as those of the linked municipalities, are now taxed for two service levels: At your service Economic life local services such as recreation, public works and garbage collection; the agglomeration's common services such as the police and fire departments, and water and wastewater treatment It is unfortunate that we had to wait till mid-may to send you the local tax notice and that the notice for agglomeration services has not yet been issued. As a responsible city, we worked very hard last fall to establish budget forecasts for both levels in order to ensure a smooth transition to our new organizational reality as of January 2006, despite the particular context that was entirely beyond our control and our will. However, due to the agglomeration council's governance rules imposed by the Québec government and establishing the double majority system, we are still at a budgetary impasse. The result: it costs our taxpayers an additional $35,000 per day in lost interest revenue and in borrowing costs. These costs and lost interests have so far amounted to $5 million, which is unacceptable! Recently again, after the mediator's report and the failure of our meeting with Minister Normandeau and the linked municipalities, we showed good faith by tabling a new proposal that: further reduces the agglomeration budget by $5 million; transfers revenue from the industrial parks; increases financial compensation for delegated activities; mandates the technical committee made up of the general managers of all the municipalities to analyze all expenditures and revenue and to propose solutions to the agglomeration council. As chairman of the agglomeration council and mayor of Longueuil, I will continue to object to the double majority system since governance will remain paralyzed even after the budget has been adopted, and all citizens will be affected, including those of Longueuil who should not pay the price for a situation they did not choose. Ville de Longueuil has everything to offer its citizens: a dynamic, lively and diversified living environment, recognized know-how, and a population known for its friendliness and social commitment. It is time that the Québec government, which is ultimately responsible for this situation, quickly take the required measures to resolve this impasse since Longueuil's population and I have had enough! Claude Gladu Mayor of Longueuil and Chairman of the Agglomeration Council Note: The Mayor's message was written on June 6. Between the time or writing and the distribution of Ici Longueuil, the situation may have changed. To follow municipal news, visit the city's website (longueuil.ca). City Council meetings Each City Council session is broadcast on Télé Rive-Sud (cable channel 9) on the Thursday following the session. June 20, 7:00 p.m. Gérard-Filion School 1330 Curé-Poirier West, Longueuil July 11 and August 22, 7:00 p.m. * * Location to be confirmed

2 2 Agglomeration Council meetings June 22, 4:00 p.m. Vieux-Longueuil Borough Hall 300 Saint-Charles West, Longueuil July 13 and August 24, 4:00 p.m. * * Location to be confirmed Citizens are welcome to attend the city's and the agglomeration's council meetings. Citizens may be heard at the start of each session. The minutes of the sessions are also available at longueuil.ca. Budget and taxation Local budget: $204.8 million The local budget adopted for Ville de Longueuil, which encompasses the boroughs of Greenfield Park, Saint-Hubert and Vieux-Longueuil, including the Le Moyne sector, is established at $204.8 million. This budget ensures the continued quality of neighbourhood services while reflecting the efforts made to minimize the effects, on our taxpayers, of the municipal reorganization decreed by the Québec government. Varying rates and spreading of property values Longueuil's budget is based on a varying rate taxation system for all sectors with five building categories. Given the substantial increase in property evaluations, the city decided to spread the increase over three years. This will soften the effects of an average 46% hike in Longueuil's assessment roll over the previous roll. Harmonization of local taxes Under Ville de Longueuil's charter, taxation in the city's four sectors will be gradually harmonized. Once the harmonization is completed, all sectors will have the same taxation rates by category. Distribution of local revenue in 2006 Revenue Millions ($) General taxation and tariffs 83.7 Sector taxation 6.6 Payments in lieu of taxes 7.0 Other revenue from local sources 99.1 Government transfers 8.0 Surplus allocation 0.4 Total revenue Distribution of local expenditures in 2006 Expenditures Millions ($) Compensation 56.6 Employer's contribution 13.6 Transportation and communications 3.9 Professional and technical services 27.0 Leased equipment, maintenance and repairs 13.3 Non durable goods 15.8 Debt service 61.8 Contributions to community organizations 3.4 Other 9.4 Total expenditures Rates per $100 of assessment (including the base rate, debt and tariffs)

3 Categories Ville de Longueuil sectors Greenfield Park Le Moyne Saint-Hubert Vieux-Longueuil Residential - 5 units or less Residential - 6 units and more Non residential (mainly commercial) Industrial Unserviced vacant lots Example for a property of 5 units or less assessed at $150,000 Sector Rate / $100 (base, debt and tariffs) Local tax notice Greenfield Park $1,111 Le Moyne $1,049 Saint-Hubert $1,101 Vieux-Longueuil $1,041 Example of the distribution of the tax value of a $125,000 property over the three-year assessment roll ( ) 2005 value 2006 value 2007 value 2008 value $125,000 $145,000 (1/3 of the change) $165,000 (2/3 of the change) $185,000 (roll value) Four payment desks Citizens now have access to four service points to pay they tax notices, from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and noon, and between 1:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (for the summer schedule, please refer to the municipal services directory). Ville de Longueuil City Hall 4250 Chemin de la Savane, Saint-Hubert Greenfield Park Borough Office 156 Churchill Boulevard Saint-Hubert Borough Office 5245 Cousineau Boulevard, suite 2000 Vieux-Longueuil Municipal Building 777 d'auvergne Street Other methods of payment Tax notices can also be paid at most financial institutions. If you prefer mailing your payments, please make out your cheques to Ville de Longueuil. You can include, with your first payment, a series of postdated cheques for your subsequent payments. Make sure to indicate your file number on all cheques (preferably on the back) and to include your payment stubs. Please address your payments to: Ville de Longueuil Taxation - Perception C.P Succursale Longueuil Principal Longueuil (Québec) J4K 0A1 Two tax notices in 2006 Exceptionally, Ville de Longueuil's taxpayers will receive two tax notices: The local tax notice for neighbourhood services, which was sent out in May. This notice is payable in two instalments, i.e. June 19 and September 18, The agglomeration's tax notice for common services, which will be issued after the agglomeration's budget has been adopted, i.e. at the same time as the agglomeration's other municipalities. Information: Info-taxes, , or longueuil.ca/taxes Environment Citizens and landscaping contractors You can call the Info-pesticides hotline:

4 To inquire about pesticide regulations in Longueuil; For practical tips and alternative solutions to pesticides for your lawn's maintenance. The pesticide by-law is designed to reduce the harmful effects of pesticides on health and the environment, and to promote alternative solutions and the use of low-impact pesticides. longueuil.ca/pesticides Info-pesticides At your service Longueuil City Hall A new service desk The new service desk in the main lobby of Longueuil's City Hall building at 4250 Chemin de la Savane has been open to the public since May 15. The service desk is available to Longueuil citizens to: pay their taxes; pay a fine issued by the Police Department within 30 days; consult the assessment roll online; request a job application form; purchase public tender call documents. For any question regarding public works, urban planning, permits, building inspections, recreation, culture, community life, applicable by-laws, or to obtain a blue box, citizens should contact their borough office. Tax notices can also be paid at borough offices. For detailed municipal service hours, please refer to Ville de Longueuil's online directory (longueuil.ca/bottin). Work is moving along! The revitalization of Place Charles-Le Moyne - located near the Longueuil-Université-de-Sherbrooke metro station - that Ville de Longueuil launched in May is moving along nicely despite the rain at the end of the month. The major phase of work scheduled for 2006 may extend into October, and will include: the reconfiguration of the Jacques-Cartier bridge's access ramp from Saint-Charles West. The ramp will be maintained, although it will be temporarily closed until work is completed in the fall; the restoration of Saint-Charles West, between Place Charles-Le Moyne and La Fayette Boulevard, to provide three lanes in each direction, including a reserved bus lane. Over the next few weeks, this major project will also include the redeployment of the area's parking facilities, start-up of the Sherbrooke University project, and the relocation of the drop-off point in August. Local traffic in the metro's area and the RTL's services will be maintained throughout the project. Temporary traffic signage has been installed to redirect motorists to by-pass roads and to Jacques- Cartier bridge. To find out how work is progressing on the territory of Ville de Longueuil, please visit our website or give us a call. longueuil.ca/travaux

5 Economic life Longueuil is on a roll! Real estate development grew by 8% in 2005 The total value of construction permits for the commercial, industrial, institutional and residential sectors reached $258.4 million in 2005, which represents an 8% increase over last year. These very encouraging results are indicative of the tremendous development potential of the city's entire territory. The borough of Vieux-Longueuil enjoyed the largest increase, with investments in the residential sector doubling from $72.9 million in 2004 to $151.1 million in The value of construction permits in the commercial sector also increased substantially to $21 million in 2005, or 50% over the previous year. Greenfield Park also jumped by 22% over Residential development in the borough of The real estate market is also doing well in the borough of Saint-Hubert. The levels reached in 2004 were maintained in 2005, with over $36 million in investments.