City of Owen Sound Starts Key Budget Meetings for 2025

Owen Sound staff and Council strive to create an annual budget that balances the increasing costs of providing City services with affordability for residents.

This month, the Draft Operating Budget is being shared at Committee Meetings as part of the budget-building process on the following dates:

• Corporate Services Committee, including Fire Protection Services, on Thursday, October 10, at 5:30 p.m.
• Community Services Committee on Wednesday, October 16, at 5:30 p.m. 
• Operations Committee on Thursday, October 17, at 5:30 p.m.
• Police Services Budget Review with Council on Monday, October 21

All meetings take place in City Hall’s Council Chambers (floor 2).

Additionally, a public meeting focused on the 2025 draft budget is scheduled for Monday, December 9, 2024. This meeting will provide a detailed overview of the proposed budget and offer another opportunity for residents’ input.

The municipal budget process may seem complex, but it can be broken down into a yearly cycle that accounts for every dollar within it.  As outlined in the City’s document, ‘Key Insights into Navigating the City’s 2024 Operational Budget’, the Operating Budget Timeline for 2025 began in June of this year as City divisions prepared for the upcoming year’s expenses and revenues. 

Public engagement in the City’s budget-building process happens throughout each year as well, including but not limited to community involvement in the development of Master Plans through regular Council and Committee meetings and amongst City projects like the Future Owen Sound Vision 2050 long-term strategic plan.

For more information, please contact Kate Allan, Director of Corporate Services, at 519-376-4440 ext. 1238 or email kallan@owensound.ca

Quotes:

"Council’s goal is to build a budget that balances the costs of providing important City services and ensures long-term fiscal responsibility.  We recognize the economic pressures on our municipality while keeping the burden of property taxes as low as possible for residents.”

-      Mayor Ian Boddy

Quick Facts:

• Operating budgets fund the city's day-to-day programs and services; capital dollars pay for large-scale projects and infrastructure investments.
• The City’s 2024 Operating Budget totals $47 million, with 74% coming from the municipal tax levy, 21% from user fees, and 5% from grant funding.
• Further Operating Budget information can be found on the 2025 Budget Engagement OurCity webpage.

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