How the City spends money

Money received from property taxes and additional revenue streams ensures the City can deliver programs and services and maintain the infrastructure that residents use every day.

An affordable community

The City has implemented a number of strategies to contain its costs, including:

• line-by-line reviews of the City budget to capture any available savings and/or revenues; and,
• taking a fresh look at and streamlining operations, managing risks and training employees within a culture of continuous improvement.

Funding and maintaining infrastructure

What is infrastructure? Infrastructure is the fundamental facilities and systems necessary for the continuance and growth of the city, including roads, parks and more.

Infrastructure is funded by property taxes and other sources, like the Canada Community Building Fund, and development charges.

In many Ontario municipalities, existing infrastructure is degrading faster than it is being restored or replaced, putting service delivery at risk. Recent emergencies throughout the province, like the flooding in Toronto in 2024, are a stark reminder of the critical importance of maintaining our infrastructure and budgeting for future infrastructure repairs.

As a result, the City is facing pressures to maintain or replace its infrastructure, all while maintaining an affordability lens and increasing its reserves.

To assist with addressing the province-wide issue, the Province implemented the Asset Management Planning for Municipalities in 2018. Learn more about Asset Management on the Asset Management webpage.