Engage in the City of Owen Sound’s 2025 Budget Process: Opportunities for Local Residents

Though 2025 may still seem far off, the City of Owen Sound is already starting next year’s budget planning process and invites residents to actively participate in informing service levels and projects that impact the community throughout the year in several different ways.  

The goal is to create a budget each year that balances the rising cost of providing City services with affordability for citizens. The yearly operating budget also aims to better understand community needs while mitigating significant economic pressures and changing service demands.

There are several ongoing ways for residents to be involved in informing City decisions on service delivery and ensuring that the budget reflects the needs and priorities of our citizens.  This includes, but is not limited to:

• Development of Master Plans: Participate in the planning process for various city initiatives to ensure they align with community needs and expectations. Projects happen on an ongoing basis; subscribe to the City’s OurCity online engagement platform or general news postings to stay up-to-date on current projects.
  
  
• Regular Council and Committee Meetings: Information and updates on City projects and initiatives are reported on throughout the year.  Reports, agendas and meeting minutes can be accessed at OwenSound.ca/Meetings and clicking on the meeting for further links and details.  Council meets bi-weekly, and City Committees meet once per month.  View the full meetings calendar on the City’s website here.
• Future Owen Sound, Vision 2050: Engage in developing Owen Sound’s long-term strategic plan, which will guide the city’s growth and development for the next few decades.  Check out the Vision 2050 project page online here.
• 2025 Budget Engagement OurCity webpage: This platform provides comprehensive updates on the budget process and links to various engagement opportunities, including the currently available budget survey.  This survey will be available until mid-August.

For residents who prefer in-person dialogue, preliminary budget reviews will be presented at committee meetings on the following dates:

• Corporate Services Committee, including Fire Protection Services: Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall
• Operations Committee: Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall
• Community Services Committee: Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall
• Police Services Budget Review with Council: Monday, October 21, 2024

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.  Citizen engagement is crucial in creating a budget that truly reflects the needs and priorities of our community. 

For more information, visit the OurCity webpage or contact the City’s budget office at 519-376-1440.

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

Quote:

"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:

• Public involvement in informing service levels and projects that impact the community takes place all year long.
• The City’s 2025 operating budget education and engagement page is now available at OurCity.OwenSound.ca 
• 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.

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