2024 Budget and Business Plan
On December 13, 2023, Halton Regional Council approved the 2024 Budget and Business Plan.
The Region works to deliver annual budgets that keep taxes at or below the rate of inflation while preserving Halton’s strong long-term financial position. The 2024 Budget is based on prudent, forward-looking financial planning principles, and includes investments in critical program enhancements and essential services to support residents and businesses. The 2024 Budget includes:
- 3.4 per cent increase in property taxes for Regional programs and services (excluding Police services);
- 7.7 per cent increase in property taxes for Police services resulting in a combined tax increase of 5.1 per cent after assessment growth; and
- 4.3 per cent increase in the combined water and wastewater rate.
If you require either document in an alternate format:
Property taxes
This table reflects the property tax impact of Regional services per $100,000 of a property’s Current Value Assessment (CVA).
| Service |
2023 Actual |
2024 Budget |
Change |
| Regional services |
$178.18 |
$184.33 |
$6.14 (3.4%) |
| Police services* |
$108.21 |
$116.55 |
$8.34 (7.7%) |
| Total Regional taxes** |
$286.39 |
$300.87 |
$14.48 (5.1%) |
- * Approved by Police Services Board
- ** Based on projected 1.7 per cent assessment growth
Water and wastewater rates
This table shows the average cost increase for a household using 226 m3 of water per year.
| Service |
2023 Budget |
2024 Budget |
Change* |
| Water and wastewater |
$1,065 |
$1,111 |
$46 (4.3%) |
- * Based on 0.8% consumption growth and 1.4% customer growth
Highlights of investments
By identifying savings and reallocating resources, Halton Region is maintaining service levels and making strategic investments while addressing high inflation, shortfalls in Provincial funding commitments, and beginning to address the loss of development charge revenue as a result of the Province’s More Homes Built Faster Act (external link).
Some of this year’s key investments include:
- Services for Seniors: $3.8 million investment to address cost increases due to inflation, and provide additional staffing for emergency planning and scheduling support. A $2.1 million investment in additional staff will increase direct care for residents in the Region’s three Long-Term Care homes, using funding provided through the Ministry of Long-Term Care, resulting in no cost to taxpayers.
- Paramedic Services: $2.2 million investment to improve response times and address operational pressures, with a $1.2 million impact to taxpayers.
- Halton Region Community Investment Fund: $500,000 increased investment to meet new and emerging community needs and fund key programs, bringing the total annual investment to $4.5 million.
- Housing Services: $3.3 million increased investment to support affordable and assisted housing in Halton, including:
- $1.3 million to support assisted housing providers;
- $1.0 million to sustainably fund and support increased rent supplements; and
- $1.0 million to begin to address the loss in development charge revenue as a result of the Province’s More Homes Built Faster Act (external link).
- Employment & Social Services: $361,000 increased investment in additional staff to support Halton's growing Ontario Works caseload and improve access to financial assistance.
- Road Operations: $2.5 million increased investment for road resurfacing and road maintenance programs. This includes additional staff resources to address pressures from the growing infrastructure system and support traffic and safety programs.
- Waste Management: $3.4 million increased investment to address higher contract costs due to inflation. This includes additional resources for Solid Waste Management Strategy initiatives to increase waste diversion and extend the life of the landfill.
- Water and Wastewater: $13.2 million increased investment to support the water and wastewater state-of-good-repair capital program and address cost increases due to inflation. This includes additional staff to support capital projects and infrastructure management.