By Pepper Parr
October 21st, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
That long-awaited first version of the Mayor’s 2025 budget will be available on Friday, the 25th.
The document goes to a Council meeting on November 4th – which gives the public nine days to go over the document and get some sense as to what they might be facing in terms of a tax increase. It is reported to be at a pinch over 8%.
Last time we saw a budget with a significant increase 15% there were four very strong delegations – didn’t seem to make any difference. Two of the delegations heard Council say they would reach out and talk to them about some of the points made in their delegation. Both have reported that they haven’t heard a word.
This time around – it might be different.
BRAG – Burlington Residents’ Action Group has a team of people in place who have divided up their understanding of the different sections the budget will be broken into – their task is to do the deepest dive possible into the data and be in a position to delegate with data from the document.
The public has been told that the budget document will not be a 700 + pages and that the format will be quite different. The Gazette will report on what is delivered on Friday.
Burlington has never seen anything like this in the 12 years I have been covering this Council.
Members of the BRAG the incorporated not for profit group are of the view that the numbers in the budget are “baked in” – “there won’t be much oportunity to change anything – but we are still going to do our job.”
Others in the community have given up – one “doesn’t believe this Council is going to get even close to changing until it occurs to them that they may not get re-elected – and then they will scurry about like rats leaving a sinking ship looking for some high and dry space.”
There is a protocol in place that Council will be following in order to have the budget discussions completed and a bylaw in place before the end of the year.Oct. 25
Mayor’s Proposed Budget Report will be shared with the community and posted at GetInvolvedBurlington.ca/2025budget and on the Nov. 4 Committee of the Whole agenda
Marianne Meed Ward before she was elected Mayor
Nov. 4 – Burlington Committee of the Whole
The Mayor, under Strong Mayors legislation, will present the 2025 proposed budget to Burlington City Council. City Council and the public will be given time to review the proposed budget and give the Mayor feedback. Delegates welcome. Register by noon the previous business day.
Nov. 7 – Budget Telephone Town Hall
Residents can join the call starting at 7 p.m. to ask questions about the 2025 proposed budget. The telephone town hall will be hosted by Mayor Meed Ward and run until 8:30 p.m. Visit Get Involved Burlington for details.
Nov. 18 and 21 – Budget Committee meetings
City Council amendments to the budget. Delegates welcome. Register by noon the previous business day.
Nov. 25 – Special Council Meeting
This meeting is for budget approval.
There is at least one member of Council who is not prepared to go along with what the Mayor is proposing. On Friday we will have a clearer idea on what she has in mind.
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