Joint Statement on the Burlington’s 2024 Budget

Joint Statement on the Burlington’s 2024 Budget:
Focusing on Essentials, Frontline Services & Planning for Future Growth

Burlington, Ont. — Nov. 28, 2023 — The City of Burlington has an approved 2024 Budget. Council brought forward 62 proposed amendments to the budget – a culmination of cuts, neutral motions, and additions. A total of 27 were approved that brought the tax impact for the City portion of your property tax bill to 4.99%. When combined with the forecasted increases of Halton Region (1.69%) and Education (0%), the total increase to your property tax bill is 6.68%. In real dollars, this translates to an approximate $57.53 increase per $100,000 of an urban home’s current residential value assessment.

At the end of the day, this is a Mayor and Council budget that is based on community feedback and guidance from City staff.

We understand these are difficult times for everyone with increased living and housing costs. The Mayor’s initial budget reduced the proposed tax impact by 1% from the initial recommended rate proposed by City staff in their 2024 Financial Needs and Multi-Year Forecast Reference Document. Council made difficult budget decisions, listening to those in the community and trying to balance the asks to cut City services to reduce taxes and the calls to increase taxes to maintain or enhance services. We have seen what happens in communities around us that do not invest enough in infrastructure or services: crumbling roads, closed community centres, and more. This budget plans for the short and long term to ensure we are investing in infrastructure and the services our residents expect.

Burlington’s 2024 Budget is a “needs-to-have” budget that focuses on essentials, frontline services, and planning for growth. The City is not immune to inflation, and the construction price index has gone up 41% since 2017. That makes existing and future contracts more expensive, as we strive to keep Burlington in a state of good repair.
Tax increases are not easy, particularly at a time when many are struggling to meet day-to-day costs. To respond to these concerns, Council tripled our investment in the City’s property tax rebate program, and asked staff to review income and age eligibility beyond seniors, so all low-income homeowners can be eligible. We will get further information on a new program in the New Year.

We also heard from the community their concerns about this year’s and future years’ tax increases. Under new Provincial legislation, the Mayor is required to present an annual budget, but can also issue directions for staff on a number of matters, including the tax rate. We want to work with Council, staff and the community and hear their thoughts on setting a proposed tax rate for the 2025 and 2026 budgets with our initial proposal being at 2.99% for City services, with an additional separate infrastructure levy at 1%.

We recognize the 2024 City and overall tax increase is unusual, and more than what many residents were asking for. City Hall is not immune to the challenges being faced by our community and delaying these much-needed investments in order to reduce this year’s tax increase would be a disservice and for some City services, such as road repair, would cost up to 10 times more if they are not made early enough. This budget continues to build on investments in capital and services our community has asked for and needs, and will serve to improve Burlington today and into the future.

Sincerely,
Marianne Meed Ward

Deputy Mayor for Strategy & Budgets Mayor, City of Burlington Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman
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Media Contact for Mayor’s Office: John Bkila, Mayor’s Media & Digital Communications Advisor Email: john.bkila@burlington.ca

Media Contact for Ward 5 Councillor’s Office: Email: ward5@burlington.ca