Budget Committee of the Whole Meeting Tuesday September 24, 2024 at 1:30pm
Meeting Agenda: View Meeting Agenda
Watch Meeting: City's YouTube or Livestream
On the Agenda:
After consideration of the June year-to-date actuals (See Appendix ‘A’), combined with a projection for the second half of the year, the City forecasts a favourable budget variance (i.e. surplus) of approximately $1,209,100, or 0.5% of the total budget.
Based on the June year-to-date results, the 2024 Water and Wastewater Fund is forecasted to be $1,512,400 unfavourable at the end of 2024.
The City expects to charge 1,260 fees in the upcoming year.
There will be:
8 new charges
127 existing fees will be unchanged
1,083 fees to be amended 3.0% or less
42 (3.3% of total fees) will be amended by more than 3%.
Almost 400 responses were received and the survey results indicate that:
Approximately half of the respondents (47%) utilize the City’s webpage
(Richmondhill.ca) as their primary source of information regarding the City’s budget.
Approximately half of the respondents (47%) agree or strongly agree that the City provided services represent good value for the property taxes paid.
For the majority of City services, respondents overwhelmingly selected services levels should be maintained, as opposed to enhanced or reduced.
The only City service which had enhanced as the most selected option was ‘Investments in future renewal of City assets’.
45% of respondents believe that the City should maintain the same level of services with a reasonable property tax increase to account for inflationary pressures while 32% believe the City should increase levels of services, through additional user fees or property tax increases.
In 2024, the property tax increase resulted in a $95.28 increase in the average single detached residential property’s tax bill. 61% of respondents
believe that this increase is about right, as opposed to being too high or too low.
Public Comments:
The public may submit written correspondence regarding agenda items by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca. Written correspondence must be submitted by 12 p.m. (noon) one business day before the meeting. Comments submitted will be provided to all Members of Council, are considered as public information and will be included on the public agenda posted to the City's website.
Delegations:
Any person who wishes to speak to Council on agenda items must pre-register with the Office of the Clerk by 12 p.m. (noon) one business day before the meeting. Applications to appear as a delegation can be submitted by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca or by using the on-line application form. Delegations can be in person, or electronically by video conference or telephone. The Office of the Clerk will provide instructions on appearing as a delegation.