By Pepper Parr
December 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
The Statement Councillor Lisa Kearns issued related to the decisions she made on the 2026 budget that has been passed by the city needs a closer look.
Kearns explains her position, pointing out that just three of her ten suggested changes were accepted by her colleagues.
Of the seven members of Council, just three: Kearns, Sharman and Galbraith, have real business experience.
Lisa Kearns, along with Councillors Sharman and Galbraith are the only people with real-world budgeting experience. She has the sharpest mind on the current city Council, and while she isn’t always right, when she talks numbers, one wants to pay attention.
I was impressed while watching the budget debate take place and disappointed at the way the final budget increase numbers were arrived at.
In the days ahead the Gazette is going to go back to the ten budget changes Kearns put forward and try to determine what the difference would have been if her suggestions were accepted. And at the same time make public why her colleagues decided not to support her positions.
What Kearns makes clear is that the current Council didn’t try all that hard to lower the increase that taxpayers are now stuck with.
Related news story:
Discover more from Burlington Gazette - Local News, Politics, Community
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I too watched and followed the 2026 Budget Meetings. A minimal dollar amount was removed from the Budget; but, then additional items and dollar amounts were added back into the 2026 Budget to bring the final Burlington portion only back up to 4.49%, without any savings whatsoever.
Our 2026 Burlington Property Taxes are up 5.8% from 2025.
Having attended and followed on line Budget Meetings, I am not convinced any of our Councilors, regardless of their “apparent” real-world budgeting experience are real stewards of money management. At least Lisa Kearns, comes forward in areas where more thought should be given.