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Windsor Looks to Deliver 2021 Municipal Budget with 0% Overall Property Tax Levy Increase

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, Chief Administrative Officer Onorio Colucci and Chief Financial Officer Joe Mancina today unveiled the draft 2021 municipal budget, which claims to keep the overall property tax levy increase at 0% while continuing to invest in services, amenities and infrastructure.

Key features of the 2021 Operating Budget Include:

• $8 million in savings identified to help ensure continued fiscal sustainability;
• More than $10 million in targeted new spending, fully offset by a corresponding reduction in the Education Levy;
• $2.5 million or 0.6% increase towards municipal operating needs;
• About $3-million or 0.7% increase towards agencies, board and committees;
• Overall net operating budget of $426,576,438 for 2021, the same amount as in 2020.

“It is unreasonable for any municipality to shoulder the costs associated with COVID-19 on their own. As they did in 2020, I hope and expect that the federal government will partner with the Province of Ontario to provide targeted relief to municipalities.”

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens

The City of Windsor has also prepared a detailed 10-year Capital Plan which forecasts $1.6 billion towards priority infrastructure projects, such as roads, sewers, parks, recreation and culture facilities, and transit investments.

The Province of Ontario has mandated that all municipalities establish a long-term asset management plan to ensure that local infrastructure can continue to be maintained, repaired and replaced when required.

As a result of this 2021-2030 Capital Plan, the City of Windsor continues to be in compliance with the Ontario government’s asset planning regulations, and this has been achieved two years ahead of schedule.

Unique to this year’s budgetary process are the ongoing pressures caused by the COVID-19 public health crisis. Reduced revenues from municipal operations; higher costs due to personal protective equipment (PPE) and increased cleaning protocols; and reduced or eliminated dividends from operations at the airport, Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and the municipal contribution from the casino have resulted in a projected $38 million in un-funded pressures for 2021.

Over the course of the next year, City administration and City Council intend to pursue all potential options to reduce and eliminate this one-time operating pressure. In 2020, the provincial and federal governments provided significant funds to municipalities across the country to help offset the financial strain associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Administration is recommending that advocacy be undertaken to secure similar commitments from the provincial and federal governments in 2021.

The City of Windsor says it is committed to managing $38 million COVID-19 pressure.

For more on this check out the 2021 budget discussion by Rose City Politics.