Title
2025 BUSINESS PLAN AND BUDGET - CITY OPERATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT FUNDING PORTIONS
Operating Budget Approvals
1. That the 2025 tax-supported base operating budget for City operations and the Infrastructure Investment Fund, with gross expenditures of $342.6 million and a net property tax levy requirement of $197.8 million, be approved
City Operations and Infrastructure Investment Funding
2. That the 2025 budget request for City Operations, with a net tax supported municipal funding requirement of $197.8 million (for the average assessed residential property this represents a 0% tax rate increase for City operations and a 2% increase associated with Infrastructure Investment Funding), be approved.
3. That the New Investment and Service Recommendations as outlined on page 20 of the 2025 Business Plan with a net cost of $1.9 million (operating) and $74 thousand (capital) and a net property tax levy requirement of $701 thousand with additional funding of $41 thousand from the water rate, $14 thousand from the wastewater rate, $649 thousand from capital projects and $454 thousand from reserves, be approved.
4. That the Water base Operating Budget, with gross expenditures of $34.2 million and revenues of $34.2 million, and the proposed 2025 Water Rates as outlined in Schedule N of the “Proposed Fee Changes” section of the 2025 Business Plan be approved.
5. That the Wastewater base Operating Budget, with gross expenditures of $46.5 million and revenues of $46.5 million, and the proposed 2025 Wastewater Rates as outlined in Schedule N of the “Proposed Fee Changes” section of the 2025 Business Plan be approved.
6. That the Parking Operations base budget, with gross expenditures of $2.4 million and gross revenues of $2.4 million, and the proposed 2025 Parking Rates as outlined in Schedule O of the “Proposed Fee Changes” section of the 2025 Business Plan be approved.
7. That pursuant to Ontario Regulation 284/09, Staff Report EMT005-24 serve as the method for communicating the exclusion of the following estimated expenses from the 2025 Business Plan:
a) Amortization expense - $ 67.6 million;
b) Post-employment benefit expenses - $ 1.7 million; and
c) Solid waste landfill closure and post-closure expenses - $ 500 thousand.
Capital Budget Approvals
8. That, consistent with the Capital Project Control Policy, the 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029 Capital Budget relating to new capital spending requests of $8.4 million, $37.6 million, $19.1 million, $26.7 million, and $42.0 million respectively be approved, with the following amendments to reflect changes brought forward after the Capital Plan had gone through its process for the budget binder:
a) That project FC1138 - Performing Arts Centre Redevelopment be amended as follows:
i) The facility be designed with a maximum total building cost of $65M in hard and soft construction costs for the building itself including fit out of all seating and audio-visual components in accordance with motion 24-G-223, to be funded from the Theatre Reserve.
b) That a new capital project be added to EN1536 - Sidewalk Infill Program (Active), for new sidewalks on Edgehill Drive east of Pringle Drive to connect to existing sidewalks. This would increase the program and Capital Plan by an estimated cost of $ 975,000, to be funded 60% from DC Reserves and 40% from the Tax Capital Reserve.
c) That a new capital project called “Little Lake Boardwalk & Dock” be added to the 2025 Capital Plan with a budgeted request of $500 thousand, to be funded from the Tax Capital Reserve.
d) That a new capital project called “Ferndale Lighting & Furniture upgrades” be added to the 2025 Capital Plan with a budgeted request of $100 thousand in 2025, to be funded from the Tax Capital Reserve.
e) That a new capital project called “Splash Pad - Peggy Hill CC” be added to the 2025 Capital Plan with a budgeted request of $50 thousand in 2025 and $1.25 million in 2026, to be funded from the Tax Capital Reserve.
9. That any Industrial Development Charge Discounts in 2025 be funded by any year-end surplus, with any remaining balance funded from the appropriate capital reserve.
By-law update and forecasts received for information
10. That effective May 1, 2025, By-law 2024-024, as amended, be repealed, and replaced with a by-law incorporating the fees and charges presented in the 2025 Business Plan.
11. That operating forecast information for 2026, 2027, and 2028 presented in the 2025 Business Plan be received for information.
Reserve approvals
12. That $600 thousand be transferred from the Vacation Reserve to the WSIB reserve to fund anticipated 2025 WSIB expenses.
13. That staff establish an “Automated Speed Enforcement Reserve” to be funded through net fine revenue collected (after offsetting costs associated with operating the program) and the monies available in the reserve be used for Road Safety initiatives, as outlined in the Staff memo “Automated Speed Enforcement Program Update” on October 30, 2024.
14. That $2,741,165.50 of the Building Faster Fund grant directed to the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve in motion 24-G-143 be transferred out of the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve and held as deferred grant revenue for use on project EN1464 - Sophia Trunk Storm Sewers, and that the funding for project EN1464 be amended to include Province of Ontario Grant Funding (Building Faster Fund) of $2,741,165.50, with an offsetting reduction of Tax Capital Reserve funding.
Council and Staff authorization requests
15. That the Executive Management Team (EMT) be authorized to add temporary non-complement positions to the end of the budget year utilizing existing approved funds to deal with any unforeseen circumstances that impact delivery of City Operations.
16. That the Executive Management Team (EMT) be authorized to implement the economic adjustment for the Non-Union Group (NUG) of employees (including full time, part time and students), effective January 1, 2025.
17. That staff be authorized to submit applications for grants that would reduce expenditures associated with projects, programs and services approved as part of the Operating and Capital Budget.
18. That two of the following officers; either the Mayor, Clerk, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer or their designates, be authorized to execute any agreements that may be required to accept grant funding from other levels of government or other partners, to reduce expenditures associated with programs, services, and/or capital projects.
19. That staff be authorized to submit applications for grants that would reduce future capital expenditures, fund service enhancements, or enable capital projects to be advanced, and a report or memo be presented, as appropriate, prior to the execution of any agreement associated with the acceptance of such grant.
20. That the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer be authorized to make the necessary alterations to the transfer to and/or from reserves to reflect changes since the 2025 Business Plan’s publication on November 20th, 2024.
21. That the City Clerk be authorized to prepare all necessary by-laws to implement the above recommendations.