The City’s annual budget is the complete financial breakdown for the delivery of a wide range of City services, and ongoing investments into infrastructure and community assets. The annual budget process involves balancing the need to maintain and improve services alongside infrastructure investment needs and affordability for taxpayers.

Challenges and Mitigation

Increasing need for infrastructure renewal and continued inflation impacting the cost of service delivery, place constraints on the City budget, and can drive increases to the City portion of property taxes. Rising inflation means the budget must increase to maintain current service levels and investments.

As part of drafting the proposed 2025 Budget, staff reviewed opportunities to delay or eliminate new full-time positions, alongside some capital projects to mitigate potential increases to the City portion of property taxes.

Staff also utilized several mitigating measures, including reducing transfers to reserves, and drawing from reserve funds to fund portions of the budget without impacting taxpayers.

Budget Documents

Budget Timeline

The following timeline has been established for the 2025 Budget process:

  1. October 29, 2024 — Draft 2025 Budget published, initiating 30-day period for Council review and amendments
  2. November 18, 2024 — Budget Public Input and Grants Session during regularly scheduled Council meeting; any citizen, group, or organization who wishes to make a presentation at this meeting should contact the Office of the City Clerk; this meeting will be held electronically
  3. November 26, 2024 ­— Budget deliberation meeting, Council to consider amendments; this meeting will be held electronically

Fees for Service

While not part of the budget, Fees for Service have an impact on budget calculations, and are prepared by staff in tandem with the draft budget. The proposed 2025 Fees for Service will be considered by City Council on November 26.

Proposed Fees for Service

Water Rates and Sewer Charges

While not part of the budget, the proposed 2025 Water Rates and Sewer Charges will be considered by City Council on November 26.

Proposed Water Rates By-Law
Proposed Sewer Charges By-Law

Accessibility

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