On December 13, Halton Regional Council approved the 2024 Budget and Business Plan. The 2024 Budget outlines strategic investments in essential services while keeping tax and rate increases as low as possible.
“We are making critical investments in the programs and infrastructure our community relies on,” said Halton Regional Chair, Gary Carr.
“This year we have maintained service levels while addressing significant pressures caused by high inflation, growth and increased demand for services. Our responsible and forward-looking approach to financial planning has earned us a AAA/Aaa credit rating for over 30 years and keeps your tax and rate increases as low as possible. I’d like to thank my Regional Council colleagues and Regional staff for their work to provide the best value for our residents and businesses.”
Key investments
By identifying savings and reallocating resources, Halton Region is maintaining service levels and making strategic investments while addressing high inflation, growth, and beginning to address the loss of development charge revenue as a result of the Province’s More Homes Built Faster Act.
Some of this year’s key investments include:
• Services for Seniors: $3.8 million investment to address cost increases due to inflation, and provide additional staffing for emergency planning and scheduling support. A $2.1 million investment in additional staff will increase direct care for residents in the Region’s three Long-Term Care homes, using funding provided through the Ministry of Long-Term Care, resulting in no cost to taxpayers.
• Paramedic Services: $2.2 million investment to improve response times and address operational pressures, with a $1.2 million impact to taxpayers.
• Halton Region Community Investment Fund: $500,000 increased investment to meet new and emerging community needs and fund key programs, bringing the total annual investment to $4.5 million.
• Housing Services: $3.3 million increased investment to support affordable and assisted housing in Halton, including:
◦ $1.3 million to support assisted housing providers;
◦ $1.0 million to sustainably fund and support increased rent supplements; and
◦ $1.0 million to begin to address the loss in development charge revenue as a result of the Province’s More Homes Built Faster Act.
• Employment & Social Services: $361,000 increased investment in additional staff to support Halton's growing Ontario Works caseload and improve access to financial assistance.
• Road Operations: $2.5 million increased investment for road resurfacing and road maintenance programs. This includes additional staff resources to address pressures from the growing infrastructure system and support traffic and safety programs.
• Waste Management: $3.4 million increased investment to address higher contract costs due to inflation. This includes additional resources for Solid Waste Management Strategy initiatives to increase waste diversion and extend the life of the landfill.
• Water and Wastewater: $13.2 million increased investment to support the water and wastewater state-of-good-repair capital program and address cost increases due to inflation. This includes additional staff to support capital projects and infrastructure management.
The 2024 Budget includes a 3.4 per cent property tax increase for Regional services and a 7.7 per cent increase for the Halton Regional Police Service. Combined, the overall Regional property tax increase is 5.1 per cent. It also includes a rate increase of 4.3 per cent for water and wastewater services.
To learn more about Halton Region’s 2024 Budget, please visit the Budget and Business Plan page on halton.ca.
Comments