Mayor touts `responsible balance' that led to budget's 3.91% tax hike
Windsor's first budget under strong mayor legislation will see a 3.91-per-cent jump in property taxes.
The city announced Friday afternoon that Windsor's 2024 budget had been finalized four days after council deliberations and without any vetoes from Mayor Drew Dilkens.
“I am proud to finalize a 2024 city budget that is a delicate and responsible balance of investments and compromises while delivering a tax levy increase below the rate of inflation,” Dilkens said.
“This budget is not just a financial plan, but a testament to our continued dedication to service delivery, fiscal responsibility and strategic growth.”
The gross operating budget for 2024 comes in at more than $1.03 billion, an increase of roughly $36.6 million from 2023. The capital budget for this year is about $207 million — almost $27.5 million more than last year.
Combined, the city's operating and capital budgets total more than $1.24 billion.
Also finalized Friday was a $1.9-billion, 10-year capital budget, with $569 million for roads, $471 million for sewers, and $183 million for parks and recreation.
After changes to the Municipal Act introduced last year, strong mayors — Dilkens included — had to table municipal budgets.
Windsor's council majority approved amendments to the mayor's budget on Jan. 29. Although Dilkens had the power to veto those amendments, he did not use it.
The mayor said each member of council informed his budget during one-on-one meetings. He called the amendments proposed during deliberations “reasonable.”
“With all of council's amendments adopted, the budget is now final and continues to make Windsor one of the most affordable cities of its size in Ontario, while investing in our growth and, most importantly, respecting the taxpayer,” Dilkens said.
During roughly five hours of discussion during a budget session last month, council approved several amendments to the mayor's budget, though none had a major effect on the levy.
Council agreed not to extend parking-meter enforcement by three hours to 9 p.m., a change recommended by city staff and expected to bring an additional $572,410 in revenue for the city. It also ended a free period of metered parking it offered during the COVID-19 pandemic, extended a free drop-in summer program at Mitchell Park and increased user fees at Lakeview Marina by six per cent.
The city budget increases municipal funding to the Windsor Police Service by 3.2 per cent, to more than $102 million. Essex-windsor EMS will receive 14.6 per cent more from the city this year ($15.7 million) and Windsor Essex Community Housing Corp. will receive 13.5 per cent more ($17.7 million).
Over the next 10 years, the city will spend nearly $50 million on infrastructure improvements to Lauzon Parkway and County Road 42.
Roughly $38.5 million will go toward improvements to the Provincial Road and Division Road Corridor, $35.7 million will pay for Transit Windsor fleet replacement, $25.3 million will fund civic esplanade improvements and about $24 million will cover the reimagining of Adie Knox Herman Recreation Complex.