Burlington mayor will host virtual public meeting on city’s budget process

The next step in the City of Burlington’s 2022 budget process is a virtual town hall being hosted by Mayor Marianne Meed Ward Nov. 22 at 7 p.m.

The live, online meeting provides residents an opportunity to learn more about the budget and ask questions to City staff about the proposed 2022 priorities.

“The budget process is one of the most important exercises the city undertakes each year,” said Meed Ward.

“Determining key spending priorities in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is challenging as COVID continues to present significant financial impacts. To assist city council in the budget process, we want residents and taxpayers to share their input and tell us what services are important to them.

“We know our citizens expect us to maintain a high quality of services as our city continues to grow and evolve and we want everyone to share their feedback with us, so we can continue to deliver on their expectations.”

Each year, during the City’s budget process, decisions are made to ensure an appropriate balance between affordability, maintaining service levels and financial sustainability over the long term.

The proposed 2022 budget focuses on:

• Mitigating the financial impacts of COVID-19
• Maintaining service levels
• Ensuring city assets are maintained in a good state of repair
• Continuing to provide strategic investments aligned to the City’s work plan, 2018 to 2022: Vision to Focus
• Upholding legislative requirements while ensuring competitive property taxes.

The proposed 2022 operating budget is $284.8 million and includes new funding to support:

• Sustaining city services ($685,333)
• Additional funding for on-going recreation facility maintenance to meet lifecycle requirements and reduce risk
• One-time funding to support a Gypsy Moth spraying program in 2022
• One-time funding to extend the contracts of two bylaw officers
• Enhancing services ($199,130)
• Funding to make the free transit for seniors pilot a permanent program
• Operating expenses to support the new Orchard Community Hub
• Modifications to services to address COVID-19 ($332,733)
• Funding to make the bus cleaning pilot program permanent
• Dedicated operations space for building inspection and bylaw enforcement staff.

When combined with the estimated regional and education tax levies, the overall projected tax increase for a Burlington homeowner in 2022 is 3.18% or $24.76 per $100,000 of assessment. For example, homeowners with a home assessed at $500,000 would pay an additional $123.80 per year or $2.38 per week. This represents a 5.45% increase to the City’s portion of the tax bill.

Details about the town hall and a link to join the virtual meeting will be available on the city website.