Edmonton property owners will be digging a little deeper in the new year, after council approved a 5.7% tax hike late Thursday afternoon.

The 2015 budget means the average home-owner will have to pay an extra $120 in 2015. That figure includes an average of $52 more for sewer and garbage collection.  

Mayor Don Iveson defended the increase and called it a budget that invests and reinvests in the city's infrastructure.

Some budget highlights: $803-million will be used to start construction of the Valley Line LRT and just over $400-million is earmarked for the new downtown arena project.

More to come...