Burlington mayor will present proposed city budget later this month

Following a change to Provincial rules, Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward will present a city budget focused on essentials, front line services and preparing for growth.

New legislation from the Province of Ontario now requires mayors to present a budget that will then be discussed and revised by Council.

Meed Ward will be releasing her proposed budget on Oct. 30 and deliberations will begin Nov. 2 at the Burlington City Council meeting.

“As part of new Provincial legislation, I will present a proposed 2024 budget to Council prioritizing the long-term needs of our city based on essentials, frontline services, and growth-planning,” said Meed Ward.

“I believe these are the priorities of Council and our community. I will be seeking input from the public and Council on the proposed budget and making modifications as needed.”

The proposed budget will be broken down into three categories:

• Essentials, covering projects and items the City of Burlington must address and/or have already committed to, such as cost of inflation, necessary capital projects and infrastructure renewal
• Frontline service, covering enhanced services that directly improves the quality of life of Burlington residents
• Planning for growth, which will prepare for the expected increase in population and allow preparartion for the future.

“This year’s budget process may look a little different, due to the new legislation, but what will be the same is that we will still have a budget reflective of the City’s and community’s needs, proposed amendments from Council members, and multiple opportunities for the community to engage and provide their feedback,” said Meed Ward.

“Our budget process has always been subject to revisions and amendments, and public input – and that will not change. I encourage everyone in our community to participate in the budget process and provide their feedback.”

To keep track of the process and key dates, residents can visit here.

Residents can register to delegate for an upcoming meeting by completing a delegation registration form or by emailing the request to [email protected].