Special City Council - Budget
Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 9:00 A.m. - 5:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

Guelph City Hall, 1 Carden Street

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

City Council meetings are live streamed at guelph.ca/live. Members of the public may delegate in person or by electronic participation.

To listen to the meeting over the phone, call 1-416-216-5643 and enter access code 2330 193 8358.

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1.

Call to Order

2.

Authority to move into closed meeting

• Recommendation:

  That the Council of the City of Guelph now hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to the Municipal Act, to consider:

2.1

Call to Order (closed meeting)

2.2

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof (closed items)

2.3

Non-Union Municipal Employee Group Compensation Increase 2023 - 2023-09

Section 239(2) (d) of the Municipal Act relating to labour relations or employee negotiations.

3.

Open Meeting - 9:30 a.m.

3.1

Closed Meeting Summary

3.2

O Canada

3.3

Silent Reflection

3.4

First Nations Acknowledgement

3.5

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

4.

2023 City Budget Confirmation, 2023-25

Presentation:
Scott Stewart, Chief Administrative Officer
Tara Baker, Acting General Manager, Information Technology
Shanna O’Dwyer, Acting General Manager Finance/Treasurer
Trevor Lee, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Corporate Services

• Recommendation:

  That the following recommendations be approved:

  1. That the 2023 operating budget be readopted as amended at a gross expenditure budget of $508,599,380 with a 2023 property tax and payment-in-lieu of taxes levy requirement of $297,280,030 or 4.96 per cent over 2022 inclusive of the following:
     1. City service budget requirement, net of the proportionate share of assessment growth, totalling an increased net levy requirement in 2023 of $9,083,317 or 3.25 per cent inclusive of the following:
        1. Increase of $2,413,429 for in-year Council decisions related to Mayor and Council compensation, Property and Assessed Clean Energy Program, Municipal Accommodations Tax, Farmer’s Market transition to 10C and costs to implement Bill 109.
        2. Increase of $1,980,000 for new legislation requirements including increased capital transfers of $1,000,000 to fund preliminary impacts of Bill 23 and an increased benefit of $980,000 related to changing eligibility for the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System.
        3. Elimination of the $500,000 transfer to the Affordable Housing reserve in response to exemptions outlined in Bill 23.
        4. Reduction of $469,000 for phase-in of South End Community Centre and Baker District Redevelopment.
        5. Increased funding of $1,255,830 through other revenues and grants associated with the Property and Assessed Clean Energy Program and Municipal Accommodations Tax.
        6. Additional assessment growth revenue of $594,831.
        7. Transfers from the Tourism Municipal Accommodation Tax reserve of $171,910 to support the Municipal Accommodations Tax program.
        8. Increased transfers from contingency reserves of $1,692,109.
     2. Rates, fees and charges totalling an increased requirement of $2,517,346 or 2.73 per cent over 2022 inclusive of the following:
        1. Increased investment of $600,000 to fund preliminary impacts of Bill 23 including a $300,000 transfer to the Water Capital reserve and a $300,000 transfer to the Wastewater Capital reserve.
        2. Increased transfers from rate-specific contingency reserves of $600,000.
     3. Local Boards and Shared Services budget requirement, net of the proportionate share of assessment growth, totaling an increased net levy requirement and in 2023 of $4,792,488 or 1.71 per cent inclusive of the following:
        1. Additional assessment growth revenue of $292,977.
     4. Total transfers to/from Reserve and Reserve Funds in 2023 in accordance with the Reserve and Reserve Fund summary.
  2. That the temporary pressures of inflation and increasing expenses resulting from supply chain challenges be offset by temporary operating surpluses experienced from tight labour markets and increased investment income, and that any shortfall be funded through the City’s Tax Rate Operating Contingency reserve in 2023.
  3. That the 2024-2025 operating budget forecast and the 2026 inflationary budget forecast be received for information, with a full four-year multi-year budget planned for 2024-2027.
  4. That the 2023 approved capital budget be amended with a net reduction of $38,751,650 resulting in the gross 2023 capital expenditure budget of $123,155,500 and the associated operating budget required upon completion of these projects totalling $1,182,700, be readopted inclusive of the following:
     1. Funding transfers from capital reserve funds and other sources including partnerships and grants.
  5. That the 2024-2031 capital forecast in the gross amount of $1,736,763,840, be received unchanged as presented in December 2021, with a full 10-year budget and forecast update to be prepared for the 2024-2027 multi-year budget.
  6. That the Guelph General Hospital levy in the amount of $750,000 be budgeted for the third of six years as approved on December 3, 2019 and be funded from the Tax Rate Operating Contingency reserve.
  7. That the Downtown Guelph Business Association 2023 budget with gross expenditures of $719,512, and a total levy of $679,800 be confirmed as presented on Dec 2, 2021.

5.

Budget Impacts per Ontario Regulation 284-09 and Budget - Public Sector Accounting Standards Reconciliation 2023, 2023-27

• Recommendation:
  1. That the Budget Impacts per Ontario Regulation 284/09 and Budget - Public Sector Accounting Standards Reconciliation for the 2023 budget be approved.

6.

By-Laws

7.

Adjournment