Special City Council - Budget
Revised Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 9:00 A.m. - 10:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

Guelph City Hall, 1 Carden Street

Changes to the original agenda are noted with an asterisk "*".

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1.

Call to Order

1.1

O Canada

1.2

Silent Reflection

1.3

Indigenous Territorial Acknowledgement

1.4

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

2.

Mayor's 2026 Budget Confirmation, 2025-501

*Please note that the recommendations for this item have changed, and are noted in bold text.

• 1. An amended 2026 City operating budget inclusive of the following:
     1. City service budget requirement, net of the proportionate share of assessment growth, totalling an increased net levy requirement in 2026 of $10,018,419 or 2.85 per cent over 2025, inclusive of the following:
        1. Base budget increase of $8,018,263.
        2. Operating impacts from capital of $2,919,575.
        3. A reduction in growth investments of $703,946.
        4. A reduction in service enhancements of $97,307.
        5. Service reductions totaling $3,140,302.
        6. Mayor budget enhancements totaling $692,681.
        7. Council respectful requests totaling $600,000.
        8. An increase to capital financing transfers of $4,849,940.
        9. The City’s proportionate share of assessment growth revenue in the amount of $3,120,485.
     2. User rates, fees and charges.
     3. Total transfers to/from Reserve and Reserve Funds in 2026 in accordance with the Reserve and Reserve Fund summary.
  2. The Guelph General Hospital levy in the amount of $750,000 budgeted for the sixth of six years as approved on December 3, 2019.
  3. An updated 2027 operating budget forecast and the 2028 and 2029 inflationary budget forecast to be received as information.
  4. An amended 2026 City capital budget with a net increase of $33,894,930 from the 2026 adopted budget resulting in the gross 2026 expenditure amount of $366,440,897 with the associated operating budget required upon completion of these projects totalling $3,656,775, inclusive of funding transfers from capital reserve funds and other sources including partnerships, grants, and debt financing.
  5. A 2027-2035 Capital forecast in the gross amount of $2,085,328,271.

3.

2026 Draft Budget Update Companion Report (Council Budget Decisions), 2025-500

*Please note that the recommendations and report for this item have changed. Changes are noted in bold text. 

• 1. That the 2026-2027 rates fees and charges be readopted, subject to any amendments in the 2027 budget confirmation year.
  2. That in accordance with the General Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy, total transfers to and from reserves and reserve funds for 2026 are approved.
  3. That the funding of FM Woods Station Upgrade (WT0064) for 2025 and prior approved budgets be adjusted to remove debt financing of $49,207,200 and replace this with funding from the Water Capital reserve fund (152).
  4. That Council acknowledges the City’s tax-supported contingency reserve balances continue to be below approved targets, and:
     1. That staff continue to be directed to replenish these reserves as a first priority through the allocation of any year-end surpluses in 2025 and future years until such point that they reach a minimum of 75 per cent of target.
     2. That Council directs staff to assess whether allocations to rebuild the contingency reserves to their target balances should be included in the next multi-year budget cycle for 2028 to 2031.
  5. That Council approves inter-reserve fund borrowing in 2026 to maintain OBC service delivery and that such inter-reserve fund borrowing be approved to maintain balance in the Ontario Building Code Stabilization reserve fund (188), which will see a shortfall as a result of transfers to address the 2025 deficit projection for this service.
  6. That Council approves the use of inter-reserve fund borrowing and recognizes some reserve fund balances are below policy targets at times within the capital budget and forecast period based on the 10-year capital budget and forecast included in the 2026 budget update.
  7. That Council approves the debt strategy included in the 2026 budget update and acknowledges that the projected debt burden level may impact the City’s future credit rating.
  8. That Council approves the application of assessment growth revenue above the amount budgeted to reduce the 2026 tax levy impact, contrary to the prescribed treatment under the Revenue Budgeting Policy.
  9. That staff be directed to undertake an operating model analysis for downtown parking as part of the City-Wide Parking Study to identify any required adjustments to revenue, expenditures, and tax support provided for this service as part of the 2027 budget update.
  10. That staff be directed to undertake an analysis of the capital and operating budgets for corporate building maintenance to ensure alignment with corporate requirements and identify any adjustments required to be reflected in the 2027 budget update.

4.

Budget Impacts per Ontario Regulation 284-09 and Budget-Public Sector Accounting Standards Reconciliation 2026 - 2025-522

• 1. That the budget impacts per Ontario Regulation 284-09 and budget – Public Sector Accounting Standards reconciliation for the 2026 budget be approved.

5.

Shortening the 30-Day Budget Amendment Period

• 1. That the 30-day budget amendment period prescribed in Ontario Regulation 530/22 Section 7 (3) be shortened and the final day for amendments be November 26th, 2025.

6.

Adjournment