Lévis’ growth continues, as does economic uncertainty. In this context, the City prefers to play it safe and “focus on the essentials” by presenting a five-year capital expenditure plan (PQI) 2024-2028 which totals $785.6 million, a decrease of 10% compared to in the previous financial year.
“A bit like people, we become a little more conservative […] to take into account inflation,” indicated Tuesday the Mayor of the City, Gilles Lehouillier, on the sidelines of the presentation of the PQI.
It is the sustainability of infrastructure that takes the lion’s share: Lévis plans to devote $344.7 million to the maintenance of its assets, or 44% of the sums included in its five-year plan.
Repairing the waterworks and sewer network alone will cost $113 million. The City also plans to invest $61.3 million to carry out the paving work. The bill to maintain the streets and what is underneath will therefore amount to $164.3 million by 2028, or 20% of the PQI presented on Tuesday.
“There are 2000 km of pipes and 1000 km of streets,” said Mayor Gilles Lehouillier. That, at some point, requires plans. »
Slowdown in development
The administration is thus putting the brakes on major development projects, after years which saw the launch of a new building housing the police and the municipal court, the development of numerous parks, including that of Pointe Benson, a site of high historical value, and the expansion of the cultural center of Lévis.
The new PQI relegates 35 projects “to study”, that is to say put on the sidelines while waiting to make their way to a next PQI. The expansion of the Old Post Office, one of the few performance halls in the City, was for example included in the plan presented last year. This year, it appears “under study”.
This PQI “perhaps looks less glamorous”, conceded the mayor, but it “takes into account inflation and our capacities”.
This “more conservative” PQI still provides for net borrowings totaling $409 million by 2028, including $120 million for the year 2024 alone. “It respects our target,” said the mayor. The opposition hears it differently: elected official Serge Bonin denounced debt which “has doubled” since Gilles Lehouillier took power in 2014.
“The debt has doubled while inflation has increased by 26%, there is something that is not working,” said the elected official from Repensons Lévis. You must always consider debt in relation to income and Lévis’s debt is the second worst among comparable cities. »
Lévis’ long-term debt-to-revenue ratio stood at 139% as of December 31, 2022.
800 million over 10 years for STLévis
The City is moving forward with the extension of a controversial boulevard, where the opposition would like to see a park appear. The PQI provides $9.3 million to stretch Étienne-Dallaire Boulevard. This winter, Alexandre Fallu, also under the banner of Repensons Lévis, won this district by 11 votes in advance by campaigning against this construction site.
The PQI does not provide for any additional investment in public transportation, at a time when densification continues at full speed in Lévis. However, the City’s transportation company recently adopted a 10-year investment plan of $800 million, “unheard of,” according to Mayor Lehouillier.
Building a new garage alone will cost half that amount. The major fleet electrification project will take up another part of it. The rest will be used to add service, indicated Councilor Isabelle Demers, in particular to reduce peripheral demand towards fast routes, to synchronize traffic lights and to attach bicycles to the front of buses.