Budget Committee

Approve the agenda as presented.

Endorse the 2025 Operating Budget including any approved budget amendments to be applied against the proposed net tax levy amount of $264,343,845; and Endorse that any surplus or deficit resulting from a difference between the actual results and the estimated 0.75% City portion of the net assessment growth be transferred to / from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund; and Endorse the 2025 Capital Budget for the City of Burlington, with a gross amount of $105,425,263 with a debenture requirement of $8,950,000, and the 2026-2034 capital forecast with a gross amount of $994,403,942 with a debenture requirement of $30,179,850 as outlined in the 2025 Budget Overview (F-36-24) and as amended by Council; and Administer the debenture in the amount of $8,950,000 in 2025 as tax supported debt; and Declare that, in accordance with s. 5(1)5 of the Development Charges Act, 1997 and s. 5 of Ontario Regulation 82/98, it is Council’s clear intention that the excess capacity provided by the above-referenced works will be paid for by future development charges.

Web and Digital Marketing (1) Remove Web and Design Marketing Advisor.

Web and Digital Marketing (1) Re-allocate existing resources from other parts of City operations to enable more efficient, technology enhanced communications and to support the Web and Digital Marketing Advisor role.

Strategic Initiatives (2) Remove funding and re-evaluate in a future budget.

Strategic Initiatives (2) Use one time funding for a one-year contract position to determine if position is required and justified for the long term.

By-law Compliance Department Phase (3) Remove funding and review previous year to year KPI's within the full compliment By-law Compliance department.

By-law Compliance Department Phase (3) Reduce the staffing from 5 to 3 for the phase 3 implementation of the program. Move the currently staffed positions to full-time - 1 manager and 1 animal control and 1 additional bylaw officer.

Parks Portable Washrooms (4) Staff to report back by Q1 2025 on the relocation of the washroom rental facilities within Spencer Smith Park with improved screening, that does not compromise safety. Increase washroom operations hours at Discovery Landing (7am-10pm 365 days of the year incl. holidays) and 414 Locust Street (8am-6pm 365 days of the year and incl. holidays). This would result in an increase in $15K.

Forestry enhancements (7) Remove funding from 2025 budget.

Provision to Library (9) Remove from 2025 budget.

Grant Administration and Accounting Support (10) Adjust to part-time (PT) until return on investment (ROI) proven to be 1:1 of FTE.

Burloak Regional Waterfront Park Maintenance (13) Increase Burloak Waterfront park maintenance and horticultural service vs. current part time service and minor contracted weed control.

Burloak Regional Waterfront Park Maintenance (13) Remove "Burloak Waterfront park" and replace with "parks". Increase parks maintenance and horticultural service vs. current part time service and minor contracted weed control.

Consulting Costs (14) Fund one-time professional consulting for strategic priorities within Corporate Affairs from the Strategic Plan Reserve Fund up to $100,000.

Wellington Park (15) Add a paved multi-use pathway in 2025 from Hager Avenue to Wellington Park with funding from the Active Transportation Reserve Fund.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations – Downtown (17) Defer this project pending outcome of the Downtown Parking Plan scheduled for completion in Q4 of 2025.

Local Roads Resurfacing Program (19) Draw $2M from the Infrastructure Renewal Reserve Fund to accommodate the addition of the $2M Local Road Resurfacing Program into the 2025 budget, and in doing so allows funding of local road resurfacing and storm water work.

Receive and file the following five (5) items, having been given due consideration by the Committee of the Whole.