City of Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown unveils proposed 2024 Budget

2024 Budget builds the Brampton advantage with a focus on Transit and Health care

The Voice of Canada News:

Patrick Brown, Mayor of the City of Brampton tabled his first mayor’s budget under new provincial legislation the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022. The official draft of the 2024 budget is now available for feedback from residents and businesses as a critical step in its development. 

Focused on Building the Brampton Advantage, this budget features critical investments that reflect the Mayor and Council’s commitment to balancing economic growth with important investments in public transit, health care, recreation, the environment, roads and infrastructure and community safety.​

Each year, the annual budget identifies priorities, goals and initiatives that ensure that the City is investing in the priorities that matter to residents. Shaped with extensive community engagement and feedback from the pre-budget telephone town hall with over 5000 residents, coffee chats with ward Councillors across the City, and a business roundtable, this year’s budget aligns with the City’s strategic plan and commits record-level investments into the community. 

Public delegations and Council discussions will begin on Tuesday, December 5.

2024 Proposed Budget Highlights

Affordability & Service Excellence

• At 1.9%, the City is able to deliver a proposed tax increase on the City portion of the tax bill that is below the September 2023 rate of inflation (3.8%). This increase is less than half of the Region of Peel increase (4.5%) and lower than the City of Mississauga’s (2.3%), and is the lowest in the GTA,
• $139M – largest ever contribution to reserves, inclusive of levies to keep City buses, roads, recreation centres, public spaces, and other infrastructure assets at sustainable levels. The majority will go towards sustaining and enhancing our infrastructure. 
• $913M Operating Budget, $544M Capital Budget = $1.5B total

Health Care

• The City has already built up reserve funds of over $74M (Sept. 2023) towards the City’s local share of $125M
• Continuation of 1% hospital levy to support the construction of a second hospital for Brampton and a new cancer care centre
• Support for new medical school

Transit

• Purchase and refurbishment of buses: $78.4 million
• Brampton Transit Zum service expansion on Bramalea Road Corridor: $3.8 million
• 108,500 New Transit Service Hours
• 136 New Transit Operators

Recreation

• Embleton Community Centre construction: $79.8M
• Howden Recreation Centre construction: $24.2M
• Cricket infrastructure and programming: $6M
• Century Gardens Youth Hub construction: $5.5M
• Tennis, kabaddi, pickleball, basketball, dog park and playground enhancements: $6.1M
• Memorial Arena Expansion (construction): $2.5M
• Lawn Bowling at FCCC: $900,000
• Basketball court and enhancements at CAA Centre: $375,000
• Artificial Turf Field at Central Peel: $200,000
• New, inclusive multi-sensory room at Loafer’s Lake Recreation Centre: $100,000

Environment

• Riverwalk Phase One (flood protection): $87.3M
• Drainage channel inspection and maintenance program: $1M
• Erosion control and streambank stabilization: $1M
• Minimize energy and emissions through energy efficiency programs: $215,000
• Enhancing Community Gardens: $100,000
• Chinguacousy Park upgrades: $25,000
• Stormwater capital improvements: $7.9M

The proposed budget has now been posted on the City’s website. If you require these documents in an alternate format, please submit your request to accessibility@brampton.ca. Public delegations and Council discussions will begin on Tuesday, December 5, with final budget approval planned for December 13, 2023. The Municipal Act, 2001, outlines the powers and duties regarding the City’s budget that are now afforded to the Mayor. The legislation states that “the head of council shall, in accordance with the regulations, prepare a proposed budget for the City and provide the proposed budget to city council for city council’s consideration.” The 30-day period has commenced for Council to consider the budget, during which Council may adopt resolutions to amend the Mayor’s budget. Council may reduce the 30-day period by resolution.  After the 30-day (or shortened) period expires, the Budget is deemed adopted (if no Council resolutions have been passed to amend the Budget). If Council resolves to amend the budget, then the Mayor 10 days consider a veto. Any decision by the Mayor to veto a Council resolution would invoke a 15-day period for Council to consider overriding a mayoral veto by a vote of two-thirds of all members of Council. The City’s annual budget process engages, educates and informs the citizens of Brampton through communications and engagement efforts, including telephone town halls, coffee chats, advertisements, news releases, social media, and the City’s budget website.  

This year’s budget supports the City of Brampton’s Corporate Strategic Plan 2022-2026. This critical document will provide structure to prioritize and deliver what is most important to the community. It will be a living plan that sets the context for the City’s budget master plans, projects, services, and resources.

“I am thrilled to unveil the 2024 budget, a strategic blueprint dedicated to building the Brampton advantage. This budget prioritizes critical investments in transit, healthcare, recreation, community safety, environment, and roads and infrastructure, ensuring a prosperous and vibrant future for every Brampton resident. I’m proud to announce that this budget delivers a record contribution to reserves and the lowest tax increase in the GTA. Your feedback is crucial as we finalize this budget, reflecting our commitment to inclusive growth and a resilient community.”-Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton