Be involved. Be informed: Budget 2022
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Learn more about how your hard-earned tax dollars are being invested throughout the budget process
Integrity. Accountability. Responsibility. The City of Vaughan’s upcoming budget process will be guided by these core principles. As the community continues to grow and navigate challenges presented by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the City’s citizen-focused budget will continue to be a fundamental part of governance – it will outline moving the city forward while also delivering more than 200 daily programs and services effectively and efficiently.
The City is developing its 2022 Budget and 2023 to 2026 Capital Plan – and you can get involved. Visit vaughan.ca/budget to view upcoming public meetings, participate in an online feedback form, email the project team and more.
The budget process
The City has a sound approach to public finances – the focus is on keeping property tax rates low, respecting taxpayers’ money and delivering quality public services that residents, businesses and visitors rely on each day. The goal is to ensure the budget is rooted in fiscal sustainability and serves to secure greater efficiencies and maximize every dollar the City is entrusted to invest. The budget will build upon the City’s existing strong foundation and account for sustainable growth with opportunities to enrich lives through arts, culture, parks, trails and recreation. In addition, it will deliver on the City’s mission of Citizens First Through Service Excellence, investing in the community’s future and factoring in the impacts of COVID-19.
The City’s budget includes an operating budget and capital investments to support and advance the priorities in the Council-approved 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan. The City’s operating and capital budget have two distinct components: the property tax-supported budget and the water, wastewater rate and stormwater-charge supported budget. The property tax budget funds the many programs and services families enjoy and expect, including garbage collection, snow clearing and fire prevention education. The water, wastewater and stormwater-charge budget funds water-related services to ensure the City can provide safe drinking water, collect wastewater effectively, manage stormwater to mitigate flooding and save for future infrastructure needs.
Each year, the City passes a budget to determine how funds will be allocated. The property tax budget and the water, wastewater and stormwater budget are discussed at the same time.
Get involved
Before the budget is approved, a key priority is to educate citizens about the process – to ensure they are informed and have multiple opportunities to comment on the budget and how the City invests their tax dollars. This includes educating residents on how property taxes and water and wastewater rates are allocated. The annual Budget Book (PDF) provides an overview of the budget and this process. The City’s 2022 Budget Book will be made available in the coming months.
As public consultation is a vital component in the 2022 budget process, residents are encouraged to join the conversation and help shape Vaughan’s promising future. The City is holding three electronic-participation public meetings in December to address the 2022 Budget:
- Special
Committee of the Whole (Public Meeting) on Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.
- Special Committee of the Whole (Public Meeting) on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
- Special Council Meeting to approve the budget on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.
Participate by:
- speaking live via teleconference to Members of Council during the meeting. To pre-register to speak at the public meeting, send a completed Request to Speak form (PDF) to clerks@vaughan.ca or call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281. Participants will be provided instructions on how to connect to the meeting. A test meeting will also be held before the meeting to allow participants to test their connection and software. You can also connect through your computer, smartphone or tablet.
- speaking live from a telephone (regular landline or cellphone) during the meeting. To pre-register to speak via telephone, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at clerks@vaughan.ca or call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281.
- submitting a written communication for review by Members of Council as part of an agenda item. All written communications can be emailed to the Office of the City Clerk at clerks@vaughan.ca.
There are many other ways to get involved:
- Watch a livestream of the City’s budget meetings at vaughan.ca/LiveCouncil. A video feed will become available at the start of each meeting.
- Provide input through an online budget feedback form at vaughan.ca/budget.
- Email any questions or comments to the City at budgeting@vaughan.ca.
- Call 905-832-8610 to leave a message that will be shared with staff.
- Subscribe to Vaughan News, the City’s eNewsletter, for updates as they are released.
- Join the conversation on the City’s Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook pages using #VaughanBudget2022.