Let's talk about the 2025 City Budget

Following extensive deliberations by the Estimates Committee, in February, 2024, Mayor Kevin Davis presented the City’s first 2024-2027 Multi-Year Budget, emphasizing efforts to protect taxpayers from inflationary pressures through user fee increases and organizational efficiencies. The City’s multi-year budget prioritizes strategic investments in housing affordability, support services, and infrastructure to support future growth.

Beginning November 18, 2024, the City’s Estimates Committee will begin the process of reconfirming year 2 of the City’s multi-year budget. Rising costs of maintaining current service levels and essential infrastructure are key challenges facing the City. With a significant majority of the City's budget allocated to legislatively mandated services and programs, Council must carefully balance taxation with service delivery to meet the needs of the community.

To ensure that Brantford residents have a voice in this process, the City is offering multiple opportunities for public input. Feedback from residents will play a crucial role in shaping the 2025 budget and informing Council's decisions.

Ways to get involved

1. Complete the 2025 Budget Priorities Survey
   Please take a few moments to complete the 2025 Budget Priorities Survey by clicking on the "Take Survey" tab below. The brief survey includes a series of open-ended questions to gather diverse perspectives on budget allocations and priorities, helping guide decisions on any required changes to Year 2 of the multi-year budget.
   
   
2. Attend Estimates Committee Meetings
   Join the meetings at Brantford City Hall throughout November or watch live on the City’s YouTube channel. Residents can present their views directly to the Estimates Committee during delegation opportunities for City programs and services on Monday November 18, 2024 and Local Boards, including Brantford Police Services and others on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
   
   

   Public Delegation Opportunities

   City Services:
   Monday, November 18, 2024 - 4:30 p.m.
   Brantford City Hall, Council Chambers, 58 Dalhousie Street, Brantford

   Local Boards:
   Wednesday, November 20, 2024 - 4:30 p.m.
   Brantford City Hall, Council Chambers, 58 Dalhousie Street, Brantford

   To speak at one of these meetings, please visit the City's website at brantford.ca/delegation to submit a written request to the City's Clerks Department by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the meeting. While budget requests for specific municipal funding cannot be addressed directly by the Estimates Committee, the City welcomes public input on budget items that impact the community.

   A full schedule of Estimates Committee meeting dates, times, and agendas will be available on the City’s website at brantford.ca/CouncilCalendar.
   
   

3. Aligning 2025 Budget Engagement discussions with Brantford’s 2050 Vision campaign
   

   To ensure Brantford's future is shaped by the voices of our community, the 2025 Budget engagement campaign will be directly integrated with the ongoing Brantford 2050 Vision campaign. Our thanks to all the residents who have agreed to participate in this initiative, led by researchers from Wilfrid Laurier University.
   
   Feedback collected in the focus groups will be included in engagement reports provided to Brantford City Council to inform the process of reconfirming year 2 of the City’s multi-year budget.