City presents operating budget for Council, community discussion – 1.98 per cent base budget increase recommended.

City Press Release:

Guelph, ON, November 4, 2016—Today the City released the 2017 recommended Tax-supported Operating Budget and Forecast for Council and the community to review. The recommended budget will be presented by City administration on November 9. Residents are encouraged to attend the presentations or watch online prior to delegating on November 30.

 The City’s 2017 recommended budget of $221,944,377 represents a 1.98 per cent increase over 2016.

 “Delivering quality service and valued programs to the community is the City’s focus. The 2017 recommended budget is the best financial plan to enable the City to continue with this focus throughout next year,” says James Krauter, acting city treasurer. “The recommended base budget meets the community’s and City’s needs for 2017 and leaves room for Council to consider additional financial implications such as expansions and the infrastructure renewal levy.”

 The list of ranked expansions to be considered by Council, are not included in the recommended budget increase of 1.98 per cent. These expansions have been ranked in order of importance, and can help improve the health and safety of the community, aid the City to meet legislative requirements, improve service delivery and find efficiencies.

 Over the past several years, and this year the City has made reductions to its operating budget in order to balance increasing costs. Any further reduction to the operating budget in 2017 would require a change or reduction in service delivery for the community and would be premature and contrary to the Business/Service Review Framework endorsed by Council in October.

Cancelled Meeting:

The previously scheduled expansions and reductions budget presentation on November 23 has been canceled. City staff will present the expansions during the November 9 tax-supported operating budget presentation. This meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall.
2017 City Budget:
Residents are invited to review proposed tax-supported documents and share their comments with Council on November 30 (Public Delegation Night), and to follow the City’s budget news on guelph.ca/budget, Twitter (@cityofguelph, #GuelphBudget) and facebook.com/cityofguelph.
All budget documents and related information will be posted on guelph.ca/budget as they become available.
Coming up next:
November 9, 2016 – Operating budget presentation to Council, including expansions and reductions (6 p.m.)

November 16, 2016 – Local boards and shared services presentation to Council (6 p.m.)

November 30, 2016 – Public delegation (6 p.m.)
December 7, 2016 – Council deliberations and approval (2 p.m.)
All Council meetings will be in Council Chambers, City Hall, 1 Carden Street.