Joint Statement on the Burlington 2023 Budget: Investing in our Community Now & for Future Generations
*Please see below a joint statement released by the Burlington Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Strategy and Budgets
Burlington, Ont. — Feb. 14, 2023 — Burlington City Council approved the 2023 Budget at our meeting earlier today (Feb.14). There is no question this budget presented a challenge to staff, Council, and residents, but it also presented a clear opportunity to make our city better – not just for the next few years, but for future generations.This budget makes key investments in community centres at the former Robert Bateman school site and new Skyway community centre and arena; as well as in park improvements; active transportation including cycling, walking and transit; coyote response to ensure public safety; more bylaw enforcement to improve quality of life; automated speed cameras to reduce speeding on local roads; and preserving our free Beachway parking pass program for Halton residents.These investments respond directly to requests from residents about what their priorities are. We recognize these will vary – one person’s ‘need-to-have’ may be another person’s ‘nice-to-have’. We take all input from the community in investing in services that serve all our residents.We’ve also accounted for inflation, ongoing impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic in revenue loss and increased expenses, and ensuring we are competitive in a tight labour market to attract the best people to deliver the best services our residents count on. We are also playing catch-up after years of underfunding in community needs, as well as increasing services for new residents – recognizing that population growth never fully pays for growth.Your taxes also pay for public school boards, investing in local education, as well as services at the Regional level, including health and social services, waste management, paramedic services and housing.Burlington’s 2023 Budget represents crucial investments that will benefit our community now and your children, your grandchildren, and their children. We are setting a strong foundation for today and our future, while delivering the services our growing community is asking for.Sincerely,Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward & Deputy Mayor for Strategy & Budgets City of Burlington Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman
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ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
- The 2023 Budget was approved by City Council on Feb. 14.
- As with every annual budget, Council members had the opportunity to bring amendments during discussions at committee to reduce or add to the budget.
- Approved amendments for the 2023 Budget included:
- maintaining free Beachway parking passes for Halton residents;
- free transit for youth after hours;
- funding for digital transformation at City Hall;
- funding for active transportation and events; and
- preserving free Beachway parking passes program for Halton residents.
- Those amendments increased the overall tax rate to 7.52% -- that includes city, regional and education tax rates. The city-only portion of your tax bill amounts to 6.34%, while the region portion is 1.18%. The portion for education did not increase.
- The city-portion includes 0.79% for dedicated infrastructure. The City of Burlington currently has a gap between infrastructure renewal needs and funding provided in the capital budget. Current and previous Councils have developed a 20-year asset management plan to close this gap over time with a dedicated annual infrastructure levy. The former hospital levy was also repurposed to help close this gap, but that amount alone is insufficient to do so.
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