I am pleased to share that on July 12, Regional Council approved Halton Region’s Budget Directions Report. This is an important step in our budget development process as it guides our work on the next Budget and Business Plan.
The Budget Directions Report helps us maintain our track record of keeping property tax increases low while delivering high-quality programs and services that support all members of the Halton community. It also identifies priority investments in critical services despite significant pressures caused by high inflation and increased demand for services and growth.
In order to maintain service levels, the 2024 Budget will address key pressures including the impacts of high inflationary cost increases, development funding changes as a result of Bill 23, and shortfalls in Provincial funding commitments, particularly for Public Health and Long-Term Care.
Halton’s key priorities for the 2024 Budget and Business Plan include:
- Public Health – supporting Public Health’s pandemic recovery which includes the revitalization of Public Health services that have been suspended or modified during the pandemic based on emerging community needs.
- Paramedic Services – enhancing paramedic response times while addressing increased costs associated with inflation, increased call volumes, population and other growth pressures.
- Delivery of New Assisted Housing Units – investments in rent subsidies and capital reserve contributions to support the delivery of new assisted housing units that will be created through considerable capital housing projects currently under development.
- Services for Seniors – continuing to increase the direct care hours for residents of the Region’s Long-Term Care Homes, as part of the Province’s commitment to ensure that residents receive, on average, four hours of direct care by 2024-25.
- Infrastructure and Growth – investments to maintain Regional infrastructure in a state-of-good-repair and to support the acceleration of infrastructure to support growth.
- Digital Strategy – continuing to invest in expanding the delivery of digital services to the community. This includes investments in digital technology to support decision-making and delivery of the most requested customer-facing services digitally.
The 2024 Budget and Business Plan is scheduled to be reviewed by Regional Council on December 6, 2023 and consideration of approval is scheduled for December 13, 2023. To learn more about Regional financial planning, please visit the Finance and Transparency page on halton.ca.