Hamilton's proposed 2025 budget would increase property taxes by 6.3%

The City of Hamilton's new proposed budget for 2025 would see property taxes increase by 6.3 per cent, or around $93.9 million, instead of the 6.9 per cent increase predicted in the fall. 

In late October, Mayor Andrea Horwath directed staff to find savings after finance staff predicted a $102.9 million increase for 2025. 

The city released the mayor's tax-supported budget Monday, which, if approved by council, would see a property tax increase of $318.40 on average, according to the city. With that, the 2025 net budget would be $1.25 billion, and total gross budget $2.81 billion. 

In October, city staff also said they predicted a 6.8 per cent increase in 2026 and a six per cent increase in 2027.

Horwath and city councillors have said they've had to play "catch-up" after previous terms of council pushed back spending on major capital projects, like road upgrades and social programs such as affordable housing.

City expecting more support from province, feds

In a Jan. 13 memorandum, it said the 2025 budget was "based on the expectation of expanded support from" the federal and provincial governments.

That includes $14.1 million for the 80-person outdoor shelter as well as the additional 192 shelter beds promised for this winter.

Some "key priorities" highlighted in the proposed budget include frontline service maintenance as well as supporting transit and transit expansion, housing and homelessness strategies, emergency services and public safety, the Climate Action Strategy, and the Housing Secretariat 2025 workplan.

The budget also includes "investments in the Transportation Network, Transit, Paramedics facility, Long Term Care and Cybersecurity and Resilience," according to city documents.

The budget would also include a 5.7 per cent increase to the Hamilton Police Service budget, or $12.25 million, recommended by the police board in late November.

Public delegations set for Jan. 20

In the statement, the city also highlighted key dates in the budget process. Those include a public delegation on Jan. 20 where the city is asking residents to have their say in the 2025 budget.

Residents must submit applications to speak virtually, in person, via a pre-recorded message, or by writing before noon on Jan. 17 on the city's website.

Other key dates in the budget process include: 

• Tax budget overview on Jan. 23.
• A few days of discussions and presentations between Jan. 28 and Jan. 31.
• Budget consideration on Feb. 7
• 2025 budget adoption could happen between Feb. 12 and March 9.