Mayor Dilkens Launches 2025 Budget Consultation Process
Today, Mayor Drew Dilkens launched a new Mayor’s Budget Consultation Process for the 2025 City Budget.
Despite anticipated long-term revenue growth from economic development, increased business activity, and rising housing starts, the City faces extraordinary budgetary pressures in considering the 2025 City Budget. These are driven by factors largely out of the corporation’s control, including contractual obligations, legislated requirements, and inflationary pressures.
In response, Mayor Dilkens launched the Mayor’s Budget Consultation Process to provide an additional avenue for Council engagement and resident feedback to support the 2025 City Budget.
This includes establishing three finance committees of Councillors, in accordance with S. 284.8 of the Municipal Act, 2001, to examine the possibility for operational and service-level savings in all City departments. Beginning public deliberations on the week of September 23, 2024, and sitting at a frequency as recommended by a committee chair, each committee will work alongside appropriate City commissioners and staff to explore options and submit their recommendations to City administration for consideration in the 2025 City Budget. The committees will have all reasonable resources required from City administration to undertake this work.
To complement this year’s ward meetings, an online survey will also be available for all Windsor residents from September 17 to October 23, 2024, to provide direct feedback, re-affirm support for critical infrastructure projects, and offer suggestions for reliable service delivery.
As per S. 284.8 of the Municipal Act, 2001, three finance committees of councillors have been appointed as follows:
Committee One – Corporate and Community Services
- Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac (Chair)
- Councillor Renaldo Agostino
- Councillor Mark McKenzie
- Councillor Kieran McKenzie
Committee Two – Economic Development and Engineering
- Councillor Jim Morrison (Chair)
- Councillor Gary Kaschak
- Councillor Fred Francis
Committee Three – Finance and Social Services
- Councillor Fabio Costante (Chair)
- Councillor Ed Sleiman
- Councillor Angelo Marignani
Quotes:
“As Mayor, I have always been an advocate for economic development, investing in growth, and fiscal responsibility. As we begin to plan for the 2025 City Budget, I remain committed to Building Windsor’s Future while keeping our great city affordable. That’s why I am taking immediate action with City Council and through public consultation to confront extraordinary budgetary pressures and ease the tax burden on residents.” - Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens
“I am looking forward to working with members of City Council and our Mayor and remain optimistic that together we will be able to present a 2025 City Budget that mitigates current pressures while continuing to deliver services to residents.” - Janice Guthrie, Commissioner, Finance, and City Treasurer
Additional Information:
- In accordance with the Municipal Act, the Mayor is required to table an annual budget for City Council’s consideration on or before February 1 each year.
- The City’s 2024 budget, finalized in February, with a 3.91% municipal tax levy increase, included all proposed amendments from City Council; continued to pay down legacy debt, increase reserves and invest in growth; and included a $1.9 billion 10-year capital budget to sustain the city’s future development.
- In May 2024, City Council unanimously approved a budget amendment to increase the municipal tax levy by an additional 0.7% to support the Strengthen the Core: Downtown Windsor Revitalization Plan.
- Council’s fiscally responsible approach to the City Budget has saved Windsor taxpayers a cumulative $1.38 billion since 2008. Since 2006, Windsor residents have experienced a total increase in their tax levy of only 12% versus the provincial average of 67%.