Budget season is in full swing at Halton Hills Town Hall, and with that comes some significant procedure changes this year.
For the first time, Ann Lawlor is required to draft her own version of the budget as part of the ‘strong mayor’ powers bestowed by the Province. Her document makes some changes to the 2025 budget already prepared by Town staff, which contained a proposed 10.86 per cent increase on the Town portion of the tax bill.
“Regrettably, the projected expenses were too high for our property taxpayers in these inflationary times,” writes Lawlor in her budget.
“For that reason, I am recommending reductions in the areas of additional staff and in contributions to reserves.”
The mayor’s budget cuts $572,600 from the staff-recommended budget by removing the following new positions: HR co-ordinator, facility maintenance technician, infrastructure GIS co-ordinator, technology and operations support and economic development officer (regional download).
The mayor’s budget also calls for a $250,000 reduction in contributions to reserves and the phasing of a new special fire levy over two years instead of one, which lowers the cost from $630,000 to $315,000 in 2025.
How will this impact taxes?
These suggested changes cumulatively cut $1.1 million out of the budget and bring next year’s proposed tax increase down to 9.14 per cent on the Town portion of the tax bill. This would equate to an additional $40.40 per $100,000 of the assessed value of your home.
In addition to the Town, local residents pay taxes to Halton Region, which may raise taxes for its services by 3.6 per cent next year, and the school boards, which are forecasting a 0 per cent increase.
When you combine the Town, Region and school boards together, Halton Hills residents could be looking at an overall 5.72 per cent jump on their property tax bill in 2025, or an additional $51.26 per $100,000 of the assessed value of their home.
While the document is called the mayor’s budget, Lawlor stressed she prepared it through a "collaborative process” by consulting with councillors and listening to the feedback gathered from local residents at four ward meetings on the topic.
“The mayor’s budget reflects changes to the staff-recommended budget based on my discussions with each councillor and public feedback,” she wrote.
So what’s next?
Council will discuss the mayor’s budget at meetings on Dec. 2 and 3. At that time, councillors can introduce and vote on amendments.
Unlike previous years, the mayor then has the ability to accept or veto council’s recommendations until Dec. 6.
If Lawlor doesn’t veto any amendments, the budget is deemed adopted as of Dec. 6. If she does veto an amendment, council has 10 days to override it with a two-thirds majority of councillors.
The new process mandated by the provincial government is raising some eyebrows around the council table.
Councillor Clark Somerville expressed concerns about the lack of a final council vote on the overall budget.
“The strong mayor powers means the mayor approves the budget and we can try to override it, but anything we try to do can be vetoed,” he said. “It’s a slap to democracy.”
Councillor Jane Fogal characterized the new process as “overly complicated.”
“I don’t know if the creators considered what happens with a split council. Are they trying to make us look like a circus? It sure looks like it.”
The budget committee meeting gets underway on Monday (Dec. 2) at 1 p.m., followed by a special council meeting starting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, where council members can introduce amendments to the mayor’s budget.
Further details, along with a livestream at the time of the meetings, is available here.
