By Pepper Parr
October 16th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The following was sent out by the City Communications department.
The indented portions are early observations on where the media release isn’t completely accurate with mention of projects that don’t fall into the three spending categories that Mayor has set out.
Preparation for the 2024 budget is underway, with Mayor Marianne Meed Ward to present a budget focused on essentials, front line services and preparing for growth. New legislation from the Province of Ontario now requires mayors of a municipality to present a budget.
That is not quite true: The Act states:
The Mayor may present a proposed City budget no later than February 1. If the Mayor does not present a proposed budget, City Council may do so.
There are a couple of mayors who aren’t taking the powers and one council which voted to not let their mayor take them.
The Mayor of Sudbury said: “nope I won’t use it, my style is collaboration with my council.
On Oct. 30, Mayor Meed Ward will be publicly releasing her proposed budget that will be presented on Thursday, Nov. 2 at the Burlington City Council meeting. This proposed budget will be broken down into three categories:
1. Essentials – This area will cover projects and items the City of Burlington must address and/or have already committed to, such as cost of inflation, necessary capital projects and infrastructure renewal.
2. Frontline Service – This area will cover enhanced services that directly improves the quality of life of Burlington residents.
3. Planning for Growth – This area will plan for and prepare for the expected increase in population, our Community Investment Plan, and allow us to catch up and prepare for the future.
The purchase of the former Bateman High School would come under this category.
The plans for the revitalization of Civic Square would come under Nice to Have which is not one of the three categories in the proposed budget. The same would apply to the spending plan for the Tyandaga Golf Course.
In service to that, staff will be preparing its 2024 Financial Needs and Multi-Year Forecast Reference Document as part of the 2024 budget process. The Mayor will use this document to create the 2024 Proposed Budget – this is now a new provincially-legislated responsibility that cannot be delegated.
Council will have the opportunity to bring motions to modify the budget and there will still be multiple opportunities for the public to engage in the budget process and provide their input.
Budget process and key dates
Oct. 30, 2023 – Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability (CSSRA) meeting –
Staff will be presenting a 2024 Financial Needs and Multi-Year Forecast Reference Document to CSSRA Committee. The Mayor will refer to this document as she develops her budget.
Nov. 2 – Burlington City Council meeting
The Mayor, under the new provincial legislation, will present the 2024 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.
Nov. 6 and 7, 2023 – Council workshops
City staff will provide more details on the additional investments in the 2024 Financial Needs and Multi-Year Forecast Reference Document.
Nov. 7, 2023 –Budget Telephone Town Hall
Residents can join the call starting at 7 p.m. to ask questions about the 2024 proposed budget. The telephone town will be hosted by Mayor Meed Ward and run until 8:30 p.m. Visit www.getinvolvedburlington.ca/2024-budget for details.
Nov. 21 and 23, 2023 – Review of proposed Mayor’s 2024 budget at meeting of Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability (CSSRA) committee, with Special Council meeting to follow
Participation opportunities
Residents can register to delegate for an upcoming meeting. Here’s how:
Register to speak at a meeting by completing a delegation registration form or by emailing the request to clerks@burlington.ca. Register by noon the day before the meeting. If the meeting is on a Monday, register by noon on the Friday before.
Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward adds the following to the announcement that came out of City hall earlier today:
“As part of new Provincial legislation, I will present a proposed 2024 budget to Council prioritizing the long-term needs of our city based on essentials, frontline services, and growth-planning. I believe these are the priorities of Council, City staff and our community. I will be seeking input from the public and Council on the proposed budget and making modifications as needed. This year’s budget process may look a little different, due to the new legislation, but what will be the same is that we will still have a budget reflective of the City’s and community’s needs, proposed amendments from Council members, and multiple opportunities for the community to engage and provide their feedback. Our budget process has always been subject to revisions and amendments, and public input – and that will not change. I encourage everyone in our community to participate in the budget process and provide their feedback.”
Quick Facts
• Residents and business owners were asked to share their feedback through the 2024 Budget Survey. This feedback will help the City to understand how respondents prioritize and value City services. This survey took place during August and September 2023. The feedback received centred around concerns with tax affordability, reducing taxes and prioritizing services such as roads, infrastructure, climate change/environment and affordable housing.
Residents and business owners were also invited to share their input at the in-person Food for Feedback engagement event in September 2023.
Publisher, You are spot on that City Hall is claiming the Mayor is required to present the budget in this communication release which is not the case at all which we addressed in a previous comment . She has been given the opportunity to do so by the strong mayor legislation rather than being required to do so! There is a huge difference in the City stated position and the legislation and Mayor Meed Ward needs to respond to this. She claimed she did not want strong powers and is now claiming she is required to take this action. Why?
The “Misbehaving” statement in the article does not seem to fit with this subject. Perhaps you can cover the issues behind what looks like a block ad in a separate article after appealing to readers to let you know if they have been affected by bans from city property for any length of time with no authorizing by-law in place. And, of course, the impact of such bans in terms of the engagement, accountability and transparency processes when such bans have meant members of the public banned from the delegation lectern.