Waterloo city council approves 2023 budget

Waterloo city council has approved the 2023 one year operating and capital budgets and the nine-year capital forecast for 2024-2032, in principle.

The operating budget includes $1.3 million in efficiencies, cost savings and other revenue solutions. The budget includes an average annual property tax increase of 3.83 per cent for base services and operating impacts of capital, along with an average annual increase of 1.62 per cent for service level changes and additional infrastructure investment for an overall total increase of 5.45 per cent.

An average Waterloo household will pay $1,478 annually in 2023. This represents an increase to an average household of $76 per year in property taxes. 

“This budget strives to balance ongoing commitments and needs of the community; while also considering the potential impact of increases. We are mindful that we are living in challenging economic times. This is the first city budget in over 20 years that is so severely impacted by inflation rates, which are at their highest level in decades. Even with these challenges, Council and staff were determined to keep any property tax increase below the current annual average inflation rate,” said Councillor Diane Freeman, chair of the City’s Finance and Strategic Planning Committee. “We believe the budget is a measured and progressive approach which is focused on supporting existing programs and services, as well as new capital assets. Through this budget, Council and staff are continuing to invest in infrastructure renewal and supporting service delivery enhancements in alignment with the current strategic plan.”

 The capital budget includes $98.6 million capital investment in 2023. As well, a capital forecast for 2024 to 2032 with a value of $750.7 million was approved, in principle. The nine-year capital forecast provides the necessary long-term planning for the City’s $3.4 billion of assets.

The net operating budget for 2023 is $92.7 million. The operating budget supports many important services and projects throughout the city including snow removal, sewer maintenance, fire protection, bylaw enforcement, road maintenance and repairs, parks, recreation, culture and leisure services, as well as youth and older adult programming.

The 2023 operating budget includes an increased investment of $7.6 million towards the City’s strategic priority areas. These commitments are funded by a combination of tax base and enterprise funding. Investments include:

• Senior Development Planner Intensification Specialist to respond to increase in complexity of applications and shortened provincial timelines, focusing on development applications in station areas, nodes and corridors, including multi-faceted condominiums
• CUPE Traffic Technicians to coordinate traffic calming programs and road closures, conduct inspections, install signage, and assist with Winter operations
• Increased funding for the Waterloo Public Library to allow for continued coverage of operating expenses, taking into account inflation, growth and efficiencies
• Additional infrastructure funding allocated to the Capital Infrastructure Reinvestment Reserve Fund (CIRRF) – to help continue to close the $28 million average annual funding gap for tax-based assets
• Indigenous Initiatives, Anti-Racism, Accessibility and Equity (IIARAE) Strategic Implementation Program Funding to build community support to address Accessibility, Equity and Indigenous reconciliation, involving: extensive engagement of equity deserving groups
• Partial reallocation of Council's Community Priority and Contingency (CCPC) Reserve Funding from the general program to the Affordable Housing (AH) program increasing the City’s ability to support the AH Grant Program and AH Strategy

The capital budget covers the costs of buying new assets or fixing existing ones, including roads, sewers, parks, fire stations, arenas, parking lots, stormwater management ponds, fleet replacement and more.The 2023 Capital Budget is comprised of 195 capital projects with a value of $98.6 million. Key capital budget investments for 2023 include; affordable housing, arts and culture, sustainability and climate change, active transportation, diversity, equity and inclusion, and key infrastructure rehabilitation including; roads, roofs, fleet and equipment, parks, and technology: 

 Affordable Housing:

• Affordable Housing Strategy

 Arts & Culture:

• Economic Development / Arts and Culture Microsite Development

 Sustainability and Climate Change

• Corporate Climate Action Plan Implementation
• Electric Vehicle Charging Program
• Community Energy Investment Strategy Implementation

 Active Transportation:

• Trails in New Development Areas - NW Waterloo
• Municipal Trail - Former Waterloo Inn Lands
• Trails and Bikeways Master Plan Implementation - City Wide

 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

• Interpretation / Translation Supports-Pilot
• Button Factory Universal Washroom

 Key Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Expansion which includes, roads, water/sanitary/stormwater, roofs, fleet and equipment, parks, and technology:

• City Wide - Road Reconstruction Rehab Program
• Resurfacing Roads - Colonial Acres Area
• Sanitary Optimization and Rehabilitation Program
• Clair Creek North Reach 1-Stormwater System Rehab
• Keatsway Storm Bypass and Creek Bank Stabilization
• Advanced Metering Infrastructure Implementation
• Roofing Replacement and Rehabilitation Program
• Fire Extrication and Forcible Entry Equipment
• Fire Replace Pump 2-2 – Ref #259
• Building Standards Vehicle Replacements
• Alexandra Park Expansion
• Bridgeport and Margaret Park
• Emerald Ash Borer Program
• Cyber Security
• Waterloo Public Library Computer Communication Upgrades

Council has also directed staff to review and report back before June 2023 on possible sidewalk snow clearing improvements for consideration as part of the 2024-2026 budget process.  Considerations to be reviewed will align with the City’s current hybrid model where the city and the adjacent property owner clear snow from sidewalks.  The focus will be on a review of sidewalk clearing at key nodes and corridors taking into consideration accessibility needs, proximity and connectivity to public transit, schools, hospitals, health services and other essential facilities in alignment with active transportation and transit routes.  Staff will also review sidewalk clearance practices in other similar communities. The community will also be consulted. Opportunities for improvement may include snow clearing at intersection corners, along curb faced sidewalks, enhanced compliance, enhanced support and volunteer services and improved communications with a potential phased-in implementation as part of the upcoming city three-year budget process.

Residents are invited to the final strategic plan community roundtable to be held on February 23. Pre-registration is encouraged, for full details please visit the Engage Waterloo project page.

Additional information about the 2023 budget can be found at www.waterloo.ca/budget.      

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