Burlington Mayor's Budget Proposes 4.99% City Tax Impact, Focuses on Essentials, Frontline Services & Planning for Growth
The Mayor's 2024 Proposed Budget is now available online at burlington.ca/proposedbudget and will be formally presented to Council Thursday (Nov. 2). As part of new Provincial legislation, Mayors are now required to compile and present budgets for their municipalities. This responsibility cannot be delegated.
The proposed budget has been compiled with the aid of the detailed City staff-prepared 2024 Financial Needs and Multi-Year Forecast Reference Document that can also be found online at burlington.ca/proposedbudget.My budget proposes a 2024 tax rate impact of 4.99% for the City of Burlington's portion of the property tax bill. Your bill is also made up of regional and education taxes that Burlington City Council does not control. These add another 1.33% to the property tax bill, for a blended rate of 6.33%.This is lower than what staff recommended in its 2024 Financial Needs and Multi-Year Forecast Reference Document (formally presented at the Budget Committee earlier today). It recommended a proposed tax rate for 2024 of 6.28% for the City of Burlington’s portion — when combined with the proposed Region of Halton tax rate of 1.33% and Education rate of 0%, the blended tax rate would equal 7.61%.
- Staff presentation: F-35-23 staff presentation re 2024 Financial Needs and Multi-Year Forecast
- Staff report: F-35-23 2024 Financial Needs and Multi-Year Forecast.pdf
- Appendices:
The Mayor's Proposed Budget focuses on "need-to-haves," prioritizing the long-term needs of our city based on:
- Essentials – This area covers projects and items the City of Burlington must address and/or has already committed to, such as cost of inflation, necessary capital projects and infrastructure renewal.
- Frontline Service – This area covers enhanced services that directly improves the quality of life of Burlington residents.
- Planning for Growth – This area plans for and prepare for the expected increase in population, our Community Investment Plan, and allow us to catch up and prepare for the future.
I believe these are the priorities of Council, City staff and our community, and I'll be seeking feedback and input from the public and Council and making modifications as needed.The proposed budget calls for a public investment of over $400 million, with more than $88 million in capital and more than $300 million in operating -- and includes both operating expenses for services such as recreation programming, transit, bylaw enforcement, and forest protection; and capital expenses for new parks, community centres, roads, and more.We recognize this is a very difficult budget year for our residents. The City and Council received 64 pages of comments from residents and what stood out for me is the number of people asking for increased services. If we can target relief to the folks who most need it, while also heeding the voices of those calling for enhanced and increased services, then we have an obligation to do both. This is about ensuring we have a good quality of life for every one of our residents. The goal is to make sure people of all income levels can afford to live in our city.For more details on the 2024 Proposed Budget, please click/tap here: MO-02-23 - Mayors 2024 Proposed Budget / Appendix A of MO-02- 23 2024 Budget Tax Summary.pdfMembers of the public can delegate at the Nov. 2 Council meeting where this budget will be presented and share their feedback. For more details, please visit burlington.ca/delegateThis proposed tax rate will be subject to any amendments brought forward by Council at our planned Budget Committee meeting on Nov. 21 (and Nov. 23, if needed). Council will have the chance to present and suggest any cuts and/or additions to the budget at these committee meetings.It's important to maintain as much collaboration on the budget, given the new Provincial legislation that has changed the process. At the end of the day, this will be a Mayor and Council collaborative budget that takes into consideration staff’s identified needs and the community’s feedback – balancing everything to ensure we have the best budget we can have considering the economic climate of today.Even though budget preparation only comes once a year, it's important to note this is not the only time we take feedback from our community and make changes. We are constantly listening and making adjustments throughout the year. Based on what we heard from the community, we recently altered and expanded transit routes, approved additional funding for winter driveway windrows, approved free transit for seniors and created a pilot program for free transit for youth.PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES:Members of the public can provide their feedback related to the 2024 Proposed Budget priorities and process by:
- Emailing the Mayor's Office or Office of their Ward Councillor at:
- At scheduled budget meetings hosted by the Ward Councillor (Check dates with your ward councillor)
- At the 2024 Budget Telephone Town Hall on Nov. 7, from 7-8:30 p.m. Click/tap here or visit getinvolvedburlington.ca/2024-budget for more details
- By delegating (in person, virtually, or in writing) to the Nov. 2 Council meeting
- By delegating (in person, virtually, or in writing) to the Nov. 21 or Nov. 23 Committee and Council meetings reviewing any Council amendments
- Register to speak at a meeting by completing a delegation registration form or by emailing the request to clerks@burlington.ca. Register by noon (12 p.m.) the day before the meeting. If the meeting is on a Monday, register by noon on the Friday before.
- Standing committee and Council meetings are held using a hybrid format, providing the option of speaking in-person at City Hall, 426 Brant St., or virtually via Zoom.
- Delegates have the option to submit written delegations -- more details at burlington.ca/delegate.
For more information on the 2024 budget, visit burlington.ca/budget or www.getinvolvedburlington.ca/2024-budget.More than 800 residents have already provided their feedback via an online survey and Food for Feedback event. The online survey results are available here: Appendix C of F-35-23 - 2024 Budget Survey Results.pdfAdditional feedback is being gathered through a telephone Community Survey that will be available to Council prior to decision-making.Upcoming Budget Process & Key Dates:Nov. 2 – Burlington City Council meeting
- The Mayor, under the new provincial legislation, will present the 2024 proposed budget to Burlington City Council.
- City Council and the public will be given time to review the proposed budget and give the Mayor feedback.
Nov. 6 and 7, 2023 – Council workshops
- City staff will provide more details on the additional investments in the 2024 Financial Needs and Multi-Year Forecast Reference Document.
Nov. 7, 2023 –Budget Telephone Town Hall
- Residents can join the call starting at 7 p.m. to ask questions about the 2024 proposed budget. The telephone town will be hosted by Mayor Meed Ward and run until 8:30 p.m. Visit www.getinvolvedburlington.ca/2024-budget for details.
Nov. 21 and 23, 2023 – Review of proposed Mayor’s 2024 budget at meeting of Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability (CSSRA) committee, with Special Council meeting to follow
- A review of the Mayor’s 2024 proposed budget will take place, including any proposed amendments from Burlington City Council.
RELATED LINKS:
- Burlington Mayor to Host 2024 Budget Telephone Town Hall Nov. 7
- Staff’s 2024 Financial Needs & Multi-Year Forecast Reference Document for 2024 Budget Process Now Online
- City of Burlington News Release: Burlington Mayor to Present Budget Focused on Essentials, Front Line Services & Preparing for Growth
- Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Oct. 2, 2023 – What are the Key Dates for Engagement on the 2024 Budget?