City Council Preview - What's on the Agenda for the November 2 Meeting?

City council will be dispatching two sections of the 2018 budget in short order at the beginning of November in a special Thursday meeting. 

City Council Preview - What's on the Agenda for the October 26 Meeting?

Tax season officially begins next Thursday with the presentation of the 2018 Non-Tax Supported Operating Budget, the 2018 Capital Budget, and the 2019-2027 Capital Forecast. Take heed, this there will only be a one week break between when this is presented, and when council votes on it. 

City Council Preview - What's on the Agenda for the October 25 and 26 Meeting?

The annual budget process begins on Wednesday with a review of all the non-tax supported and capital budget projects. Here's the preview of that first, special budget meeting of city council, plus, the meeting from the day before. 

City Council Preview - What's on the Agenda for the July 18 Meeting?

It's all been leading to this... The epic midseason finale of Guelph City Council! After Monday night's meeting, council goes on its traditional midsummer break, so that means there's lots and lots of business to take care of before school let's out for (the rest of) summer - so to speak. 

City Budget Available to Parse For Yourself Online

Every year, the creation of the city budget is a contentious and difficult process, but after it's all said and done and voted on, it seems it's just kind of forgotten about till the debate over the next year's budget begins, or some sort of malfeasance regarding something in the budget being misspent comes to light. 

Perhaps the city's trying to change that by letting by letting people access the budget anytime, anywhere (so long as you have internet access and/or are in one of the city's public libraries). The city announced yesterday that they've posted the 2013 budget online, and if currently awaits budget hawks of all stripes in 10 easy and convenient to download pdfs on the City of Guelph website.

PR Friday #3: Enterprise Budget Passed for 2012

For our final press release post on this PR Friday, comes news that the City of Guelph's Enterprise Budget for 2012 was passed by city council. The biggest impact on you (as in you the people) is that water rates will go up an extra $1 per week, which so far as inflation goes isn't half bad. Scroll down to get more details and there's a link at the bottom where you can check out the full budget. 

GUELPH, ON, October 20, 2011 – Guelph City Council has approved the 2012 operating budgets for water, wastewater, court services and Ontario Building Code (OBC) Administration at $53,127,284. Water and wastewater rate increases will have an impact of 8.5% on the average residential bill, which translates to an approximate increase of $1 per week.

Water conservation efforts and careful budgeting has resulted in a lower than expected increase. Based on higher presumed consumption levels, original long-term rate forecasts in the City’s Water Supply Master Plan (2006) projected a 10% increase to the average household bill for 2012.

Guelph’s water use has decreased 20% in 10 years despite the addition of about 20,000 households. Conservation efforts are also delaying the need for very expensive infrastructure projects that would be a significant burden on rate payers.

Janet Laird, Guelph’s Executive Director of Planning & Building, Engineering and Environment, reminds residents that users pay for water by volume, which means conserving water keeps household costs down. “For the first time, forecasting household water costs is based on actual local use rather than national industry standard usage because Guelph’s actual use is much lower. Our efforts help Guelph remain an international example of environmental stewardship.”

Increases to water and wastewater rates fund the replacement of aging water and wastewater infrastructure; operating cost increases for energy and materials; maintaining environmental and regulatory compliance; and increasing contractual costs for qualified Water and Wastewater professionals. The approved budget ensures the high quality water and wastewater services that Guelph residents rely on are delivered.

Guelph is one of the largest cities in Canada to rely solely on groundwater. Guelph’s drinking water undergoes more than 20,000 health related tests each year to ensure it meets or exceeds Provincial and Federal Drinking Water Quality Standards.

The City’s wastewater treatment system is often referred to as a model for other communities as it protects local rivers and aquatic ecosystems. The wastewater treatment facility’s optimization program has been provincially and federally recognized for best practices in management, efficiency, and cost savings as a result of deferred capital investments and improved wastewater treatment.

Click here to see the proposed 2012 Enterprise Funded Budget.