On December 15, 2021, Halton Regional Council approved Halton’s 2022 Budget and Business Plan. The Budget details how the Region will invest in its programs, services and infrastructure, maintain service levels and keep property taxes low in 2022.
“Halton’s 2022 Budget and Business Plan will support the remaining objectives in our 2019-2022 Strategic Business Plan by funding critical enhancements to essential programs and infrastructure,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “Its investments will help ensure that we can continue to assist residents and businesses through the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. The Budget also delivers on our commitment to keep the property tax increase for Regional services at or below the rate of inflation while preserving our top credit rating and the high quality of life in our community.”
The 2022 Budget presents a multi-year financial plan to address the key service priorities identified by Regional Council. It includes a 2.0 per cent property tax increase for Regional services and a 2.5 per cent increase for the Halton Regional Police Service. Combined, the overall Regional property tax increase is 2.2 per cent. It also includes a rate increase of 2.8 per cent for water and wastewater services. In keeping with Halton’s fiscally responsible approach to financial planning, the 2022 Budget identifies savings and efficiencies to provide maximum value for tax and ratepayers.
Some of the key investments include:
- COVID-19 Response: $13.9 million for additional costs in Public Health, Paramedic Services, Long-Term Care, Children’s Services and Housing, as well as facility and technology-related costs. The majority of this investment is funded by the Federal and Provincial Safe Restart Agreement (external link) and COVID-19 Recovery Funding for Municipalities (external link), and additional Provincial funding, resulting in a net cost to taxpayers of $711,000.
- Public Health & Long-Term Care: $2.0 million to provide needed capacity in Public Health and Long-Term Care, partially funded by anticipated provincial funding resulting in a net cost to taxpayers of $751,000.
- Halton’s Digital Strategy: $1.3 million to enhance digital services by transforming business processes and services to ensure complete, high-quality online service delivery.
- Strategic Investments: $2.7 million to maintain service levels and support the objectives, outcomes and actions identified in the Region’s 2019–2022 Strategic Business Plan.
- Housing Services: $2.1 million increased investment in the Halton Rental Assistance Program to support an increased number of rent supplement units. This investment includes one-time funding resulting in a net cost to taxpayers of $573,000 in 2022.
- Employment & Social Services: $300,000 to increase food security for Ontario Works recipients and their families.
- Halton Region Community Investment Fund (HRCIF): $250,000 to meet new and emerging community needs and to continue with recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- State-of-Good-Repair Program: $6.4 million increase in transfers to support the water and wastewater state-of-good-repair capital program.
To learn more about Halton’s 2022 Budget and Business Plan, please visit the Budget and Business Plan page on halton.ca.
The Regional Municipality of Halton serves more than 595,000 residents in the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville. Halton Region is committed to meeting the needs of its residents through the delivery of cost-effective, quality programs and services, including water and wastewater; Regional roads and planning; paramedic services; waste management; public health; social assistance; children’s and seniors’ services; housing services; heritage programs; emergency management and economic development. For more information, call 311 or visit Halton Region’s website at halton.ca.