Council deliberates 2025 budget to address community safety while preparing for growth

At the Nov. 26, 2024 special council meeting, the mayor’s proposed budget was deliberated and Council voted to accept two amendments:

1. Amendment to add an additional, unanticipated $427,000 funding from the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) to reduce the tax levy from 3.4% to 3.2%.
2. Amendment to the funding structure for a fire services tanker truck in order to reduce the tax levy to from 3.2% to 3%.

The tax levy for 2025 is 6.7%, which includes 3% general operating, 2.2% additional policing increase and 1.5% dedicated capital levy to look after roads, bridges and other capital assets.

Mayor Elmslie noted this is the first year the budget process has fully incorporated strong mayor powers, and he chose to put a budget committee in place to include resident needs and concerns from across the municipality in the development of the budget.

“The budget committee brought a broader community perspective forward. Deputy Mayor McDonald, and Councillors Joyce and Richardson, worked together with staff to get the budget down to targeted levels while dealing with unanticipated pressures and extreme cost inflation across many goods and services. I thank them for their professionalism, and I thank Council and the public for their involvement throughout this process,” commented Mayor Elmslie.

Deputy Mayor McDonald remarked as Chair of the Budget Committee, “We took the Mayor’s mandate, which was to follow the long-term plan, and listen to residents’ concerns. We added no new spending. We focused on the big picture for all of Kawartha Lakes. There were $8.8 million in reductions needed to meet the 3% target. Staff brought the reductions, and these were not easy decisions. We did our best and stuck to the plan.”

The Mayor shared the highlights of the 2025 budget in his opening remarks, noting a focus on:

Community Safety and Well-Being

• Addresses the urgent needs of police services with a 2.2% increase to meet demand, comply with provincial requirements, and replace capital assets.
• Invests in fire and paramedic services, including fleet, facilities and staffing (four paramedics, Fire District Chief and Emergency Manager), to maintain timely response and prepare for and respond to City-wide emergencies.

Affordable Housing: Invests $15 million for 65 new affordable housing units, moving closer to the 2024 pledge of 542 units, with momentum building for 2025.

Community Support: Invests in youth, culture, recreation, and economic development organizations that form the heart of the community.

Health Care Gapping: Supplements provincial primary health care support to address local needs.

Growth and Development

• Ensures growth is funded by developers, delivering new amenities and services that benefit all residents. Due to new development, the tax base has grown by more than $255 million dollars in 2024, which resulted in a tax revenue of $2.7 million dollars.
• The Water-Wastewater Budget is within the forecasted target of a 3% rate increase for users of the systems, and the approved capital improvements ensure availability of services for new developments.

Workforce Investments

• Balances growth pressures and service delivery by investing in staff, while keeping net tax impact from new positions at $1.5 million after reductions.
• Recent collective bargaining agreements ensure competitive wages and benefits, maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Modernization and Digital Transformation

• Emphasizes streamlining and leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and service delivery, including digitizing fieldwork, improving mobile work processes, and updating websites for better resident access

“This budget balances immediate community needs while investing in our largest capital budget to date, at $128 million,” shared Sara Beukeboom, director of corporate services. “This will ensure we have the infrastructure in place to support sustainable growth, while keeping existing assets in good repair and providing value for every tax dollar.”

Public engagement throughout the budget process has emphasized education, helping residents better understand budget priorities they identified through feedback. A video series, further information and a copy of the budget is available on Jump In, Kawartha Lakes, the City’s engagement platform. (jumpinkawarthalakes.ca/2025budget)