Back to Search
Burlington, Ont.— Dec.11, 2024 - Today, Halton Regional Council completed deliberations on their portion of the budget, increasing the police budget from 13.8 per cent to 14.3 percent by a vote of 15-9. This results in a regional increase of 6.18 per cent, up from the originally forecast 6 per cent. Halton Regional Council approved the budget.
As a result of the budget approval by Halton Regional Council today, the overall tax increase for Burlington in 2025 will now be 5.82 per cent, up from the projected 5.76 per cent presented at the Nov. 25 Special Council meeting. This is inclusive of city, region, and education portions.
Burlington property tax bills are made up of three parts:
-
51 per cent goes to the City of Burlington to fund local services like transit, roads, parks, and public safety.
-
33 per cent goes to Halton Region for regional services like Halton Regional Police Service, waste management, water, and public health.
-
16 per cent goes to the Boards of Education to support local schools.
Burlington’s Top 5 Capital Investments in 2025
Burlington’s population is expected to grow by over 40 per cent in the next 25 years. To ensure a sustainable financial future, City budgets need to prepare for growing resident needs. This includes investing in more infrastructure for long-term community benefits. In 2025, $103.5 million is allocated for capital projects that will bring improvements to every ward. Some of the largest investments include:
-
$12M to renew City parks, including City View Park to increase park use
-
$10M for repair and renewal to City facilities to promote community use
-
$7.8M for the Burlington Transit Operation Facility expansion to increase transit efficiencies
-
$6.3M for the Plains Road renewal to decrease traffic congestion
-
$5.2M for Stormwater Management to reduce flood risk in high-priority areas
For more information on the 2025 budget, visit burlington.ca/budget or getinvolvedburlington.ca/2025budget.
Burlington is a city where people, nature and businesses thrive. Sign up to learn more about Burlington at burlington.ca/subscribeand follow @CityBurlington on social media.
Quick Facts
-
Work on the City of Burlington’s 2025 budget began in May. Residents, businesses, partners, staff, and all members of council were invited to provide feedback at getinvolvedburlington.ca/2025budget, the Food for Feedback event, at six in-person consultation meetings in each ward, at a telephone town hall, and during committee and council meetings. This feedback was presented to City Council to allow them to provide feedback on the proposed priority projects and services.
-
Public feedback centered on concerns with tax affordability, reducing taxes and prioritizing services such as roads, infrastructure, climate change/environment and affordable housing.
-
In June 2024, the 2025 Financial Needs and Multi-Year Forecast Report was presented at Committee of the Whole. Preliminary discussions began in July 2024, and throughout summer, among staff, Council, and the community to help with information sharing and collaboration early on in the process.
-
Under new provincial legislation, the city budget process has changed. Mayors are now required to either prepare a budget or direct staff to do so. Councils can amend the proposed budget; Mayors have the option to veto amendments; and councils can override a Mayoral veto by a two-thirds vote. After this process is complete, the budget is deemed approved.
-
In Burlington, the Mayor issued a Mayoral Decision in July to direct staff to prepare the budget. This was unanimously endorsed by council.
-
Following in-person consultation meetings in September and October, the City published its Proposed Budget on Oct. 25and presented it to Committee of the Whole Nov. 4 for feedback and public delegations.
-
Council presented amendments to the budget at a special Budget meeting on Nov. 18, at which time public delegations were again received. The amendments were approved at a Special Council meeting Nov. 25.
-
The Mayor did not exercise the veto option and issued a Mayoral Decision, ending the veto period, and as a result the staff-presented, council-amended budget was deemed approved after the Special Council meeting of Nov. 25.
-
For Halton Region budgets, staff presented a budget to Regional Council at meetings on Dec. 4 and 11. Regional councillors can bring amendments, as happened today regarding the police budget. Council votes as a whole to approve the budget and any amendments. That work is now complete.
-
The Mayor and all six Burlington councillors sit on the 24-member Halton Regional council, which includes representatives from Burlington, Halton Hills, Oakville, and Milton.
-
Halton Region provides services such as: police, paramedics, health and social services (including housing), services for seniors, water and wastewater, regional roads, waste management, and contributions to Conservation Authorities.
Quote
Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
"After careful deliberations, Regional Council approved their budget today, providing key investments in health and social services, housing, police and paramedics, transportation, waste management and services for seniors. The City of Burlington has already completed our budget deliberations, so the total property tax increase has now been set for 2025 at 5.82 per cent, inclusive of city, region, and education portions.
I want to thank everyone who took the time to participate in the city and regional budget discussions. Your input was valued and considered in our decisions. Our investments will ensure sustainable services and quality of life for our residents now and in the future."
Links and Resources
-
Visit burlington.ca/budget for information about the 2025 budget, or getinvolvedburlington.ca/2025budget.
-30-
Media contact:
City of Burlington Communications
communications@burlington.ca
Subscribe