Staff Directed to Provide Options to Reduce Burlington City Tax Impact Below 4.99%, Bring Overall Tax Impact to 2.43%
Council has approved a motion from Mayor Marianne Meed Ward to direct staff to provide options for any potential savings in this year's proposed operating budget to bring the City of Burlington tax impact below 4.99% (2.88% when combined with Region and education tax rates) to 3.99% (representing a 2.43% tax increase overall).The motion was brought forward by the Mayor at today's Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability (CSSRA) Committee meeting on the proposed 2021 Operating Budget overview.The full staff direction reads:
Direct the Chief Financial Officer to provide a list of 2021 operating budget reduction items forCouncil’s consideration that could decrease the overall proposed tax impact (city,region, education) from 2.88% to 2.43% (representing a city tax increase of 3.99%) withthe list being provided to members of Council by February 1, 2021 and included forpublic reporting as part of the February 23, 2021 Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk &Accountability Committee - Operating Budget Review and Approval.
Staff had a presentation of the proposed 2021 Operating Budget that can be viewed here: F-04-21 2021 operating budget overview staff presentation.BACKGROUND:In September 2020 Council approved the 2021 Budget Framework Report. This report provided Council with the parameters on which the proposed 2021 budget would be prepared, outlined key budget pressures and forecasted a preliminary city tax increase of 4.95% for 2021.Since that time, staff found some opportunities for savings and have finalized the preparation of the 2021 Operating Budget that results in a recommended City tax increase of 4.99% (2.88% overall including Region ofHalton and Boards of Education). The staff report outlines the process undertaken to finalize the budget, discuss key challenges addressed in the budget and summarize the financial impacts.To view the City's Finance Dept. Staff Report, click here: F-04-21 2021 Operating Budget Overview.The full proposed 2021 Operating Budget Book is also available for viewing here: Proposed 2021 Operating Budget Book.Key Upcoming Budget Dates:
- Feb. 23 and 25 -- CSSRA Committee -- Operating Budget Review and Approval
- March 3 -- Council -- Operating Budget Approval
MAYOR MEED WARD'S TAKE:At last night's Virtual Budget Town Hall, hosted on Microsoft TEAMS Live, residents were asking the same questions we are at Council and Committee: What savings are available? What would be the impact? It was a good opportunity to explain to public the costs for the City of Burlington to supply the same services has gone up and the public is actually asking for more services. Our staff is being asked to deliver new services with the same amount of resources and while costs have gone up.I really appreciate the efforts of staff — $2.4 million in savings already taken out before presenting this budget to us at committee. It’s been an interesting and difficult year. We know some changes already made will be made permanent, such as digital resources.The pandemic has really exposed where the cracks and gaps are. I look forward to getting some options from staff for further savings, and continuing to pursue additional funding from the federal and provincial governments to assist us.RELATED LINKS:
- Staff report: F-04-21 2021 Operating Budget Overview
- Staff presentation: F-04-21 2021 operating budget overview staff presentation
- Budget Book: Proposed 2021 Operating Budget Book
--*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor's Media and Digital Communications Specialist