After spending the past couple of weeks hosting town halls and listening to feedback from residents, businesses, and Council colleagues on my proposed 2025 draft budget, I have decided to make several changes.
As a reminder, the 2025 confirmation budget tax rate increase was originally projected at nearly ten per cent. Knowing that this increase was simply too much for Guelph residents to afford, I issued a Mayoral Direction to reduce this property tax impact rate to under four percent. The announced city portion of the tax rate was revised to 2.59 per cent, with the draft budget coming in under the 2.63 percent target for the city’s portion.
Your feedback has helped me craft an even better budget, with targeted changes that makes the city more welcoming, accessible, and affordable for those who need it most. These changes include:
➡️ Additional funds and resources to drive affordable and non-market housing
➡️ More emergency funding for homelessness, mental health, and addiction crisis
➡️ Restoring the Welcoming Streets Initiative
➡️ Funding the Guelph Tool Library with a one-year Community Benefit Agreement
➡️ Phasing in the five per cent Youth Subsidy reduction over two years instead of one
➡️ One-time funding to review the Community Benefit Agreement program
➡️ Beginning the Transit Route 5 service frequency expansion
➡️ Enhancing the high school free transit pilot at all times during the summer
➡️ Eliminating transit fares for Tier A and Tier B of the Affordable Bus Pass Program
➡️ Reinstating proactive forestry work
➡️ Restoring funding for Guelph’s bicentennial celebration in 2027
➡️ Increasing capital funding for several projects, including installation of a crosswalk at Margaret Green Park, initiating the Culture Plan, trails and parks accessibility access, and installation of a veteran’s crosswalk
These budget additions change the City’s portion of the tax rate to 3.21 percent. I believe there is tremendous merit in these additions for only a 0.62 percent increase in the tax rate, and I am confident this is the right decision for our community to balance value and affordability for residents.
I want to thank everyone who took the time to reach out to me about the proposed draft budget. Your voice is important, so consider delegating to all of City Council on November 19 if you have additional 2025 budget feedback for us. I look forward to hearing from you.
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