Feb 2, 2024 – Mayor Siscoe on Friday took the step of waiving the Mayoral veto period
for the 2024-26 Multi-year Budget, bringing the budget process to a close with the
adoption of the City of St. Catharines Budget for 2024. This concludes the first budget
process under the new Strong Mayor legislation introduced by the Province of Ontario in
2023.
“This year’s budget process was very different in terms of how we proceeded, but I think
the outcome speaks to better, more transparent and accountable decisions being made”
Siscoe said in a statement.
“We’ve managed to balance the desire of residents to see the services maintained at current levels while still keeping taxpayer affordability at the forefront of our decision-making.”
The City levy for 2024 came in at a 1.78% increase, after Council chose to increase
spending from the Mayor’s originally proposed 1.49% increase. However, this will
translate on the average resident’s property tax bill to an increase by the City of $30.32,
or 0.72%. The full breakdown on the average bill is as follows:
City levy property tax increase 0.72% $30.32
Estimated Regional levy property tax increase (incl. special levies) 3.03% $127.03
Estimated Education levy property tax increase 0.08% $3.21
Estimated Total property tax increase 3.83% $160.56
Highlights of this year’s budget include:
• Introduction of the Older Adult Tax Increase Deferral program, as passed by Council in
Q4 of 2023;
• $963,000 in additional costs related to legislative changes imposed by the
Province;
• $1.43 million in inflationary and non-discretionary (ie. Contract obligations and
insurance increases) increases;
• $250,000 in reduced costs from consolidated security contracting;
• $1.65 million in increased revenue generation through increased investment
revenue, the addition of new fire dispatch revenues and the new Municipal
Accommodation Tax.
“I want to congratulate the Budget Committee under the leadership of Chair Carlos
Garcia and Vice-Chair Dawn Dodge for their efforts during this new process, and to the
staff for their work in crafting the City’s first multi-year budget. That hard work will lead
to predictability for our residents as we continue through the remainder of this term of
Council” said Siscoe.
The Multi-Year budget for 2024-26 – the first budget of its kind in St. Catharines – has
become a best practice in the Province of Ontario, and will involve a reconfirmation
process in both 2025 and 2026.
Mat Siscoe
Mayor of St. Catharines