Introduction to the Municipal Budget Process

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What you Need to Know about Municipal Budgets

The annual budget operationalizes the Township's Strategic Plan and is the equivalent of “Putting your money where your mouth is,” or it’s “Where the rubber hits the road.”

As a strategic document, or roadmap, the budget should clearly show:

• What the community values,
• What it wants to get done, and
• Where it wants to be in the future.

Some Notes about the 2022 Budget Package

The Capital budget does NOT include carry-over projects (projects approved and funded in prior year budgets); however, work may continue on those projects in 2022.

Transfers from reserves can vary significantly year over year, and these amounts are largely driven by annual capital requirements.

This budget is in line with Council’s long range financial plan which considers the Township’s ability to fund capital and operations over a 10-year period while observing strategic priorities and maintaining tax rate targets and reserve balances.

What Story does the 2022 Budget Tell?

While it’s the last budget of this term Council, it’s NOT only about wrapping things up - it will also continue to implement Council’s strategic plan with new initiatives and goals.

The Township made it through big changes in the past year; 2022 is a year of refinement where the organization will work to streamline services and address important policy initiatives that were brought forward in 2021. Some of these initiatives and services include:

• Gravel roads and Asset Management,
• Affordable Housing,
• Short-term Rentals,
• Shoreline Protection,
• By-law Enforcement,
• Enhanced Recreation, Parks & Leisure, and
• Continued organizational capacity-building

Despite the variety of projects on the go, the Township still aims to maintain a strong financial position with each municipal budget.

Council Direction and Strategic Priorities

At the December 14, 2021, Committee of the Whole Meeting, Council received a report which laid out various budget pressures and community survey feedback regarding the 2022 budget.

Highlights of that report included:

• Budget survey results – ratepayer openness to reasonable tax increases to maintain or enhance services,
• Climate Change, Economic Development, Shoreline Protection priorities,
• Parks & Outdoor Amenities, Recreation priorities,
• Budget Delegations (Petworth/Bellrock Mills, Volleyball Courts),
• Discussed “growth funds growth” approach to organizational development, and
• Council strategic priority areas needing increased focus (see image below)

Complete 2019-2022 Strategic Plan can be found here.