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In July, Council approved the 2026 Financial Forecast report, officially launching this year’s budget process with a focus on limiting tax impacts for residents. The current projected total tax increase is 4.49 per cent, which includes services provided by the City of Burlington, Halton Region (including Police Services), and the Boards of Education. Of this amount, the City portion of your total tax bill is projected to be 3 per cent.
The budget will be prepared with four principles in mind: affordability, sustainability, liveability and transparency. My top priority is ensuring Burlington continues to deliver the high-quality services you rely on, while keeping our city affordable. Whether it’s maintaining our community centres, repairing roads, or enhancing our parks, together with staff, Council and the community, I’m focused on making smart, responsible investments that reflect the needs and values of our residents. Every dollar the City spends must work hard for you.
I invite you to take part in the 2026 budget process by attending one of our budget town halls, taking place in each ward in the city. You can attend any session that’s most convenient to you. Your feedback helps guide Council’s decisions and ensures we continue building a city that works for everyone.
I’ll be co-hosting these town halls with City staff and participating Ward Councillors. We answer every question and take back every piece of feedback - because your voice matters.
Let’s work together to build a stronger more affordable Burlington. I look forward to seeing you this fall.
| Join us at a budget town hall near you: |
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Ward 6 - Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. |
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Ward 1 - Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. |
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Ward 2 - Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. |
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Ward 3 - Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. |
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Ward 4 - Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. |
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Ward 5 - Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. |
426 Brant St., P.O. Box 5013
Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6
Tel: 905-335-7777
Email the Mayor
Mayor’s Executive Administrator
Tel: 905-335-7777
mayor@burlington.ca

Deputy Mayor for Business and Red Tape Reduction
426 Brant St., P.O. Box 5013
Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6
Tel: 905-335-7777, ext. 7587
Email Councillor
Councillor’s Assistant
Tel: 905-335-7777, ext. 7863
ward1@burlington.ca

Deputy Mayor for Community Engagement and Partnerships
Two Budget Workshops with Councillor Kearns will take place at Burlington City Hall in Room 247 on Sept. 29 at noon and 6 p.m. These sessions provide an overview of the City’s budget process and an opportunity to share local priorities.
Ward 2 Update Meetings continue on Oct. 22 and Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at City Hall in Room 247.
426 Brant St., P.O. Box 5013
Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6
Tel: 289-962-2679
Email Councillor
Councillor’s Assistant
Tel: 905-335-7777, ext. 7368
ward2@burlington.ca

Deputy Mayor for the Environment
Also, stay tuned for the City’s updated Climate Action Plan.
426 Brant St., P.O. Box 5013
Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6
Tel: 905-335-7777, ext. 7459
Email Councillor
Councillor’s Assistant
Tel: 335-7777, ext. 7565
ward3@burlington.ca

Deputy Mayor for Housing
We’re make significant progress towards expanding our protected bike lane infrastructure along Prospect Street at Burlington Centre. This will enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety as we support street safety and active transportation initiatives in our community.
As we look towards future municipal elections in Burlington it is important to note that the geographic boundaries of many wards, including Ward 4, have been significantly altered. Visit the City website for updates and information.
As the Deputy Mayor of Housing, I am excited to support the newly approved Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan and Financial Incentive Program for residents looking to provide more affordable housing in our community. Visit the City website for more information.
The Ward 4 Budget Town Hall is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 29 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Tansley Woods Community Centre in Community Room One. I look forward to co-hosting a collaborative conversation with the Mayor and the community.
426 Brant St., P.O. Box 5013
Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6
Tel: 905-335-7777, ext. 7531
Email Councillor
Councillor’s Assistant
Tel: 905-335-7777, ext. 7512
ward4@burlington.ca

Deputy Mayor for Strategy and Budgets
Ward 5 is a vibrant, growing community with diverse amenities, green spaces, and events that bring people together. In 2024, 31 “Love My Neighbourhood” events were held across the ward. Interested in hosting your own gathering? You may qualify for up to $500 in funding per household or event, once per year. Contact my office to learn more.
426 Brant St., P.O. Box 5013
Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6
Tel: 905-335-7777, ext. 7591
Email Councillor
Councillor’s Assistant
905-335-7777, ext. 7454
ward5@burlington.ca

Deputy Mayor for Recreation and Community Services
Join me at these upcoming events and Drop-in Sessions I am hosting in September. I hope to see you there!
426 Brant St., P.O. Box 5013
Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6
Tel: 905-335-7777, ext. 7592
Email Councillor
Councillor’s Assistant
Tel: 905-335-7777, ext. 7480
ward6@burlington.ca

The City of Burlington is making significant investments in two major community hubs: the Skyway Community Centre and Park, and the Robert Bateman Community Centre, reaffirming its commitment to accessible, inclusive, and sustainable public spaces.
The Skyway Community Centre and Park, undergoing a $39 million redevelopment, is one of the City’s largest infrastructure projects in recent history. Set to open in Fall 2025, the new facility will feature an NHL-sized ice pad, a multi-use indoor track, and versatile program spaces. Outdoors, Skyway Park is being transformed with a 275-foot baseball diamond, a natural playground, accessible pathways, and shaded gathering areas. The project also emphasizes energy efficiency and sustainability, by maximizing heat recovery, incorporating geothermal systems and reducing emissions by up to 85 per cent compared to traditional facilities.
Meanwhile, the Robert Bateman Community Centre is being repurposed from the former high school into a vibrant multi-use facility. It will house community partners such as TechPlace, Burlington Public Library, Halton District School Board, City of Burlington and Brock University, creating a collaborative space for learning, innovation, and recreation. The City is investing in modernizing the building to meet accessibility standards and support a wide range of programming for all ages.
These investments reflect Burlington’s vision of fostering connected, active, and resilient communities. By revitalizing these spaces, the City is not only preserving essential public infrastructure but also enhancing quality of life for residents across generations.

Climate change is a global problem with local consequences and solutions. Recognizing the severity of our changing climate, City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019. Slow, steady rain seems to be increasingly replaced by heavy, isolated downpours. While we can’t stop the rain, the City is making important infrastructure upgrades to manage stormwater and keep residents safe.
In 2025, the City is investing over $12 million in stormwater management projects to reduce flooding in target areas. This brings the City’s total investment in stormwater management from 2015 to 2025 to over $90 million.
Flood safety is a shared responsibility. The City is asking for the public’s continued cooperation and awareness to help ensure flood responses run smoothly. Residents can support these efforts by keeping storm drains clear of leaves and debris, reporting any blocked or damaged drains, and flood-proofing their homes through a variety of measures, including considering City or Regional flood prevention programs.

As global trade dynamics shift, the City of Burlington remains committed to supporting our local economy. With ongoing tariff challenges that began earlier this year, we’re focused on ensuring Canadian businesses remain strong, competitive, and resilient.
Burlington proudly celebrates Canadian-made goods and services and welcomes local businesses to grow and invest in our city. The City of Burlington works with more than 3,100 vendors, and of those, less than 5 per cent are registered with primary addresses outside of Canada.
In May, City Council approved a six-month, interest-free property tax deferral program for industrial properties directly impacted by U.S. tariffs. This application-based support gives qualified businesses extra time to meet their tax obligations, without penalties or interest.
The City is investing in Burlington’s future by backing the businesses that call our city home, and encourages residents to do their part by buying Canadian and learning more about the impact of supporting local.

Need to scoot along Centennial Trail to get to work or maybe catch the bus or GO Train? The City has SCOOTY rental e-scooters you can ride on Centennial Trail, between Brant Street and the Elgin Promenade and the end of Centennial Trail at Burloak Drive.
E-scooters are available 24/7. You must be at least 16 years old to ride and if you are under 18 years old, you must wear a helmet. If you are 18+, helmets are optional and strongly recommended.
Be a safe, courteous rider. Scooters can be ridden in the service area along Centennial Trail and cannot leave the trail. Make sure you start and end your ride in a designated parking zone and rent a scooter for each rider. Please stay off the sidewalks and share the trail with all other users.
You need to have the SCOOTY App to rent an e-scooter. The app is available for Apple and Android devices.
This is part of the City’s Integrated Mobility Plan and will run as a two-year pilot until 2027. Let us know what you think! Share your feedback with the City at city@burlington.ca or 905-335-7777.
Coyote sightings are common in Burlington’s green spaces, where they play an important role in the ecosystem. While generally shy, they can pose a risk to small pets, especially during dispersal season (September–December).
Tips for living with coyotes |
| Residents can take steps to safely coexist with coyotes in Burlington |
Report sightings |
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Your feedback helps us to monitor the location of coyotes in the community. If you see a coyote, or observe a potential problem related to an overgrown building site, garbage or someone intentionally or accidentally feeding a coyote, you can assist the City by submitting an online report. |
Drop by a Coyote Pop-up |
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Every other week, Animal Services hosts a Coyote Etiquette and Petiquette Pop-Up at Central Library (2331 New St). Stop by our pop-up table to ask questions and learn more about a variety of topics, including how to haze coyotes and coyote-proof your property. |

If you’re a property owner in Burlington, you could get up to $95,000 to add another living unit on your property. Burlington’s ARU Incentive Program provides financial support to create new affordable rental Additional Residential Units (ARUs) or renovate an existing ARU to bring it up to legal standards.
The program helps cover costs for up to three Additional Residential Units (ARUs) on properties within Burlington’s urban boundary. ARUs are self-contained, permanent living units with their own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping areas. They are on the same property as a primary home, including single detached homes, semi-detached homes and townhouses.
ARUs can be inside or attached to a main house, such as a basement apartment or garage conversion, or in a separate building like a permanent tiny home.
The program offers homeowners and non-profit organizations fee waivers for eligible municipal fees up to 100 per cent, 10-year forgivable loans for affordable ARUs of up to $95,000 and one-time grants of up to $15,000 to renovate a non-compliant ARU.
Apply for the program within a year of receiving zoning clearance and get a building permit by Oct. 1, 2025.
For more information, contact:
Learn more about the Additional Residential Unit Incentive Program

The City of Burlington has been awarded $759,719 over two years from Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada to support enforcement of the City’s new Short-Term Accommodation By-law. The by-law, which came into effect on May 1, 2025, was shaped by nearly 500 survey responses and thoughtful community input. The by-law places a strong focus on supporting safe, welcoming neighbourhoods and protecting housing availability for residents.
The by-law limits short-term accommodation (e.g., Airbnb, VRBO) to a maximum rental period of 28 consecutive days and a total of 183 days per year. It requires all short-term accommodation operators to be licensed and includes clear rules around occupancy limits, parking, waste management, and safety standards.
If you rent your property as a short-term accommodation, the by-law applies to you. Applying is simple, and City staff are here to support you every step of the way.
This funding will help the City add more enforcement officers to ensure a fair and consistent approach. Our focus is on protecting the community while working collaboratively with operators. Stricter enforcement will begin in September.
The City of Burlington offers many different ways for you to volunteer. Volunteers are an important part of our community and help make our City better. Volunteers support many different City programs and activities. It’s a great way to learn new skills, gain experience, and meet new people. When you volunteer, you make a real difference in your community.
If you are interested in applying for a volunteer role, email volunteer team, call 905-335-7777, ext. 7978.

Get Involved Burlington is the City’s online engagement portal where your ideas and feedback help shape the projects, policies, and initiatives that matter most to your community. All feedback, big or small, makes a difference. Help us build Burlington’s future.
Create an account on Get Involved Burlington to share your voice - your insights drive real decisions.
Since January 2025:

40,000 residents have visited Get Involved Burlington

6700 subscribers are informed about projects weekly through our e-newsletter

602 residents participated in the Ward Boundary Review. Those responses helped to influence the redrawing of our Ward Boundaries.

Register today at Get Involved Burlington.
It takes less than five minutes.

Share your voice.
Strengthen your community.
Shape our city.
Community Panels bring together a small group of residents to share their thoughts and give feedback. These high impact panels reflect thoughts and ideas from across our community.
Interested? Learn more at Get Involved Burlington.
Residents volunteered for Community Panels to help shape our:
Share your thoughts. Have an impact. Shape our city.


In May, City Council passed by-law 030-2025 to make minor changes to the city’s ward structure. New ward boundaries will be in place for the 2026 Municipal Election.
The changes reflect resident input gathered during the Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review.
The new ward structure will accommodate growth and population shifts for the next three municipal elections. It also aims to help ensure voters are represented equally in decision-making, no matter where they live in the city.
The changes impact Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Eligible voters in Burlington will elect the Mayor, City Councillors, Halton Regional Chair and School Board Trustee. The Mayor and Councillors also serve on Halton Regional Council.
This is your opportunity to choose who makes key decisions for you and your city.
To check if you are on the voters list, visit the Register to Vote website.

Work to build the 2026 budget is underway. Hearing from you is an important step in the budget process. With rising costs and global economic shifts, the 2026 budget strives to balance affordability and maintain the essential services that foster a vibrant, high-quality of life in our City.

City Council approved the 2026 Financial Forecast report on July 15, with a focus on limiting tax impacts for residents. It provides a preliminary look at the economic pressures and service needs that will shape the 2026 budget.
| 2025 Share of Tax Bill | Forecasted 2026 Share of Tax Bill | 2025 Taxes per $100k of residential current value assessment | 2026 Budget Change | Forecasted 2026 Taxes per $100k of residential current value assessment | Tax Increase in dollars | Tax Increase as a percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Description |
Percentage of your taxes that go to each organization in 2025 |
Forecasted percentage of your taxes that will go to each organization in 2026 |
Amount you pay in taxes in 2025 |
Forecasted increase in each organization’s budget |
Forecasted amount you will pay in taxes in |
Forecasted increase in the amount you will pay in taxes, from 2025 to 2026, in dollars |
Forecasted increase in the amount you will pay in taxes, from 2025 to 2026, as a percentage |
|
Burlington |
51.37% |
52.01% |
$499.11 |
5.80% |
$528.07 |
$28.96 |
2.98% |
|
Halton |
32.88% |
32.92% |
$319.47 |
4.60% |
$334.17 |
$14.70 |
1.51% |
|
Education |
15.75% |
15.07% |
$153.00 |
0.00% |
$153.00 |
$– |
0.00% |
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
$971.58 |
4.49%* |
$1,015.24 |
$43.66 |
4.49% |
As part of the budget process, Council endorsed a Mayoral Direction for City staff to prepare a proposed budget with a total tax increase (this includes the budgets for Burlington, Halton Region, and the Boards of Education) in the order of 4.5 per cent, with Burlington’s share of the total tax increase being less than 3 per cent.
Budgets are more than dollars and cents. Your taxes fund the services you depend on - like safe streets, reliable transit, resilient infrastructure, welcoming parks and community centres, flood protection, and swift emergency response.
Take part in upcoming public engagement opportunities for the 2026 budget. Provide feedback on the budget priorities that mean the most to you.

Survey runs from Aug. 25 to Oct. 5

Sept. 13, noon – 4 p.m. at Central Park, 2331 New St.
Led by Mayor Meed Ward, with participating Ward Councillor and city staff.