Budget 2024: Investment in Ward 15
I began the budget process with a clear message to my Council colleagues; life has become increasing unaffordable, food bank use is up 80% this year, homelessness is up 50% since the onset of the pandemic, and interest rates are at a generational high. As a City Council, we have a duty of care to ensure responsible, targeted, taxation control.
In September of 2023, on the eve of budget season, I introduced a motion to cap the Council’s ability to increase municipal taxes beyond 4% or by CPI (whichever was lower). My goal was to ensure that we embarked on the budget process with a defined roof on new spending. Half of my council colleagues spoke favourably to the motion, and it was referred to budget committee.
The backdrop to the City’s budget work was the lingering aftereffects of Ontario’s Bill 23. The same act that tried to carve out the Greenbelt, was also designed to raise property taxes, as it removed a municipality’s ability to charge certain development fees to real estate developers. Despite the province’s reversal of the Greenbelt land swap portion of the bill, the denial of development charges remains. Bill 23 has directly downloaded over five billion dollars from real estate developers, onto the property taxes of Ontarians. Thus, the Ontario PC’s Bill 23 remains a nightmare for local planners. In Hamilton, the cost to residents is pegged at approximately $30 million this year – or an extra 2.55% on property taxes, beyond any municipally generated increase. The province has “promised” to “make municipalities whole” – meaning they will transfer equivalent funding to offset those increases. I would be lying to say I trust the word of our provincial government at this point. Thus far, Hamilton has not seen any new funding from the province. The bottom line is sadly simply, residents are on the hook for at least a 2.55% tax increase before the City of Hamilton even picks up a pen. You may have seen this noted on the interim property tax bills sent to homes recently. The line labeled “Provincial Impact” is the amount of money once paid by real estate developers, now on property tax bills.
What came next was the shocking realization that Hamilton taxes could increase by 14.2%. That was the figure staff pegged in late 2023 as the total recommended tax increase to cover all council initiatives, support all budget requests from staff, and compensate for newly exposed tax burden created by the provincial government.
The real work then began. To the credit of everyone involved, I didn’t hear a single person around the horseshoe suggest that 14.2% was in any way acceptable – regardless of the provincial downloading we need to endure. Council worked to find savings and efficiencies, while not losing sight of the major issues around homelessness and food insecurity in our community. The budget projection quickly dropped to 7.9%, at which point the process of public delegations began. I took the opportunity to reintroduce my 4% cap on the municipally generated portion of property tax. My Council colleagues saw the light and voted 14-2 to support a hard cap on taxes. To my knowledge, it is the first time this has even been accomplished in City of Hamilton. By binding the property tax discussion around a cap, we were able to debate and negotiate our city’s ‘wants’ vs. our ‘needs’ more effectively. We reduced spending where appropriate, lowered the City’s reliance on consultants, and strategically used reserve funding to help offset the impact to rate payers. Further, Council rejected a proposal to set aside an additional 1% of property taxes to fund a $460 million hospital re-development plan. That plan lacked any clear detail of goals or timelines, and more importantly, health funding is the responsibility of the province, not a municipality.
After much debate, and in the spirit of my motion to cap a tax increase below 4%, the finalized 2024 municipally generated portion of the tax increase is 3.24%. The province has shuffled approximately $30 million to Hamilton taxpayers through Bill 23, which means the provincial impact on property taxes is an additional 2.55%. In total, Hamilton residents will see a 5.79% tax increase in 2024, with 44% of that figure a direct result the provincial download to Hamilton.
Budget Breakdown
Budget Distribution
What about Ward 15?
Ward 15 residents overwhelmingly told me that they care about our community and believe in sound investment in public health and safety. While at the same time, they expect better value for their tax dollars in their own backyard. Traffic calming measures, road work & repair, an increase in police presence, and the lack of community centre are top of mind priorities in Ward 15. I often hear how residents feel overtaxed and undervalued. That was one of the major reasons I ran for the office of Councillor. I believe Waterdown, Flamborough, and Carlisle deserve better value for their tax dollars. As a former social worker, I am pleased to say that Council adopted a budget that provides needed funding for the City’s homelessness crisis, along with valuable social programming. Simultaneously, as the Ward 15 Councillor, I am proud to say that our community will receive millions of dollars in new capital investment, through this budget.
Specifically, $3.5 million is earmarked for major bridge and road work on Dundas St, between Mill St. all the way to the boundary with Burlington. The area of Dundas between Mill St. and First St. is particularly notorious for potholes and repeated degradation, especially during freeze / thaw cycles. This area will see a major overhaul. Further, based on traffic studies completed last year, there are dozens of locations in Waterdown where enhanced traffic calming measures and increased traffic cushion construction will be funded in 2024. I know this will be welcome news to many residents.
Moreover, Waterdown will finally have its police station. Ward 15 residents have been disproportionally high victims of car theft and robberies over the last 18 months. Our community deserves a stronger police presence. The new joint police / fire station coming to Parkside Dr. and Highway 6 is a very important asset. Approximately 40 officers will be based at this new station, along with a new traffic reporting centre, as well as enhanced EMS service, when the station opens (projected for late 2025 / early 2026).
Further, two brand new parks are scheduled for construction in 2024 thanks to capital allocations in this budget. Smokey Hallow Park in Mountainview Heights, as well as Clear Skies Park in the Sadielou / Gundy neighbourhood will be constructed this year. New, modern, accessible parks and playgrounds are very important for our growing community.
Perhaps most importantly, the City of Hamilton is on track to construct a new Community Centre in Ward 15. I made it clear during the election, as well as subsequent media opportunities, and to the Mayor of Hamilton, that Ward 15 deserves a community centre - with a pool. Rec centres become the heart of a community. They facilitate healthy lifestyles, support both youth and senior recreation, host community engagement events, and generally contribute to the betterment of a populus. Some wards in Hamilton have two or three community centres and we have none. That’s not right and that needs to change. I am very pleased to say that budget 2024 includes $2.2 million to conduct the Waterdown Pool and Recreation Centre Feasibility Study. Additionally, at present, $20+ million is already assigned to the 2025 capital budget for community centre development in Waterdown! This is fantastic news for our community and a clear sign that Hamilton is investing in Ward 15 for the future. I look forward to guiding this very important project to fruition, as I continue striving to make a difference for the residents of Waterdown, Flamborough, and Carlise.
