Your 2025 Budget Talks

Click to watch the web streamed video.

Welland City Council has concluded the second of two amendment meetings for the 2025 budget, marking an important step in the budgetary process. These meetings, held on November 20 and 27, 2024, provided Council members with the opportunity to table amendments to the Mayor’s 2025 proposed budget, fostering robust debate and active participation from all members.

The Mayor’s 2025 proposed budget, tabled on November 4, 2024, emphasized maintaining existing service levels while prioritizing the repair and renewal of the City’s assets. Initially, the proposed budget projected a tax rate increase of 3.54 per cent.

During the amendment meetings, Council members submitted 36 amendments, which were supported by City staff through detailed financial analyses, tax levy impact projections, business cases, and assessments of service level implications. After thorough deliberation, several amendments have advanced to the final stage for approval on December 4, 2024.

List of amendments advancing to the final stage:

• 2025 Tax Supported Operating & Capital Budget Amendments

As of now, inclusive of the proposed amendments, the projected tax levy increase stands at 3.95 per cent. The fixed cost for Water will remain at 33 per cent, and the Wastewater fixed cost is increasing from 33 per cent to 37 per cent.

The estimated household impact of a municipal tax levy on a single family detached residential property with an average assessment of $232,000 is $72.78.

Once Council concludes on December 4, the 2025 budget will automatically be adopted after a 30-day period unless a veto is exercised. The Mayor retains the option to veto the budget within a 10-day period at the conclusion of the meeting on December 4. Should a veto occur, a two-thirds majority vote from Council will be required to proceed.

Click to watch the web streamed video.

On November 20, 2024, City Council held the first of two scheduled budget amendment meetings to review amendments submitted by the November 14 deadline. Discussions focused on the 2025 proposed budget, initially presented by the Mayor on November 4.

Council members reviewed 12 proposed amendments to the budget. Each amendment was introduced and Councillors had five minutes to discuss or pose questions about each proposal. Of the 12 amendments proposed seven (records and information management coordinator; communications specialist; economic development officer; a part-time seasonal garbage collector for Welland, including Cooks Mills and Dain City, on Saturdays and Sundays from April to September; a part-time parks project coordinator; civic square plaza revitalization; Empire Sportsplex maintenance of $50,000), were included in the strictly conditional category to be considered in the final budget.

Two amendments dealing with speed limit signs were deferred to November 27, as a staff report dealing with the issue will come to Council on November 26.

One amendment was proposed to water and waste water budget: increasing the waste water fixed rate to the provincial average of 41 per cent, was defeated.

Any amendments that were adopted by Council are included in a strictly conditional category at this time. A second amendment meeting is planned for November 27, with final approvals scheduled for December 4.

Staff provided detailed financial analyses for each amendment, including estimated impacts on tax levies and rates, ensuring Council members had the necessary data to make informed decisions.

This structured, multi-step process aims to ensure transparency and careful consideration of potential fiscal impacts. As the 2025 budget moves toward finalization, Welland City Council is committed to delivering a municipal budget that balances fiscal responsibility and with community needs and priorities.

Click to watch the web streamed video.

At the second meeting in City Council’s budget process, several groups and departments proposed business cases and presented updates and requests, with no decisions expected to be made that night. Amendments to the budget will be brought forward on November 20.

Group Presentations

• Group presentation

Youngs Sportsplex

The presentation given to Council detailed the ongoing updates to Youngs Sportsplex, highlighting new initiatives, the expansion of current programs, and other notable changes designed to enhance the community’s sports offerings.

Welland Public Library

The library presented an update on its current activities and outlined base budget requests for a bookmobile and a position to staff the bookmobile.

Welland Museum

The museum submitted two requests:

1. To cover the average budget deficit for the past three years, including a four per cent adjustment for inflation.
2. To hire additional staff to support programming, alongside covering the budget deficit and accounting for inflation.

All updates were presented for information purposes, with no decisions to be made during the meeting.

Staff Presentations

• Staff presentation

Several departments presented staffing requests for consideration:

Community Services:

• Part-time Social Services Advisor
• Parks Working Foreperson
• Facilities Working Foreperson

Planning and Development:

• Supervisor of Bylaw Enforcement
• Climate Change & Environmental Coordinator

Information Services:

• IT Project Manager

Infrastructure Services:

• Labourer (Roads)
• Pavement Rejuvenation Program

Fire & Emergency Services:

• Fire Prevention Officer
• Emergency Management Funding

Council received these updates and will further discuss these items and what is in the proposed budget as amendments, which will be presented on November 20.

Click to watch the web streamed video.

The City of Welland’s budget meeting on November 11, 2024, covered legislative responsibilities, community engagement results, and the Mayor’s 2025 proposed budget, including tax-supported and capital budget updates. Three reports were on the agenda:

• Legislative Responsibilities in the Budget Process: Presented legislative requirements for the new budget cycle.
• Budget Communications and Engagement: Showcased resident feedback, identifying priorities for services and spending.
• Mayor’s 2025 Proposed Budget: Outlined the 2025 budget vision, focusing on essential services, economic growth, and community well-being.

The meeting provided an opportunity for City Council to discuss budget priorities and review community feedback in preparation of the first round of amendments, scheduled for November 18.

There are three scheduled Special Council meetings dedicated to the budget process to review and consider amendments to the Mayor’s proposed 2025 budget. The first two meetings are designated for reviewing and conditionally approving submitted amendments, with any approved amendments impacting the final tax and water rates for 2025.

A third meeting will be held for the final approval of these strictly conditional amendments. Before the first two meetings, Council members will have the opportunity to ask questions related to the budget, though they are encouraged to reach out to staff in advance with any inquiries about budget processes, specific items, or other related matters.

To ensure a thorough review of all conditionally approved amendments and their effect on the final tax and water rates, this process will follow a two-step approach. Staff will provide Council with an estimate of the tax or rate impact for each amendment to assist in determining whether the amendment should advance through the approval process.

For those interested in the survey results, you can view them in the Budget Communications and Engagement report (see Appendix A). Additionally, updates will be made to the 2025 Budget page on Engage Welland, including the meeting video, reports, and more.

Catch up on all the budget meetings to date.

November 11, 2024 (click the image to watch the video)

November 18, 2024 (click the image to watch the video)

November 20, 2024 (click the image to watch the video)

November 27, 2024 (click the image to watch the video)

December 4, 2024 (click the image to watch the video)

This series of episodes is focused on the budget process.

2025 Budget: What you Need to Know

2025 Budget: What you Need to Know - Operating Budget

2025 Budget: What you Need to Know - Capital Budget

2025 Budget: What you Need to Know - Asset Management and Nine-year Capital Plans