2025 Budget

As part of the 2023-2026 Council Strategic Priorities, one key goal is to be an Effective Region. We aim to deliver our core services responsibly and sustainably. We're committed to making continuous improvements across all our departments. The 2025 budget focuses on maintaining our reserve fund and not taking on new debt.

The 2025 budget focuses on not taking on new debt and maintaining our reserve fund. We use this fund to invest in our infrastructure needs.

As a regional government, we are responsible for providing essential services such as clean drinking water and safe roads. To deliver these services, our infrastructure assets like water and wastewater treatment plants must be well maintained. This is important for the long-term sustainability of the region since these services are used by residents every day.

Our Asset Management Plan helps guide investments in our facilities and other assets. One priority of the 2025 budget is to invest in our Capital budget, which funds all the Capital projects related to our aging infrastructure.

By focusing on a sustainable approach, the Region will be better positioned to meet the needs of Niagara residents now and in the future.

Learn more about how the Niagara Region budget works.

• Capital Budget

  The state of infrastructure is a major budget theme, not just in Niagara but across the country. The 2025 Capital Budget has been tabled at $376 million. Its focus is on an increased commitment to investing in Niagara's capital needs, which includes infrastructure projects.

  The Region's 2021 Asset Management Plan evaluated the state of repair of assets. The plan stated a funding strategy of $444 million per year for the next 10 years would be needed to address the billion-dollar backlog of infrastructure maintenance and to keep up current levels of service. The Region will work towards increasing annual contributions related to capital assets over time in line with the plan.

  The Capital Budget report was carried and will be approved at the Budget Committee meeting on Dec. 5. Councillors will ratify the report along with other budget considerations at the Regional Council meeting on Dec. 12.

• Waste management and Niagara Transit Commission

  Waste management

  The Budget Committee meeting discussed the special tax levies related to waste management and the Niagara Transit Commission. Watch the Budget Basics: Understanding Tax Levies video to learn how these levies work.

  The 2025 waste management services gross operating budget of $53 million was presented to Councillors. The emphasis in this part of the budget is on management. The Region is not just responsible for collecting waste. It also funds these landfills and the costs related to landfill closures as their lifespan comes to an end.

  Council carried the staff report for the waste management operating budget of a proposed increase of 0.9 per cent. After a 1.5 per cent assessment growth, it became a decrease of 0.6 per cent.

  Niagara Transit Commission

  The Niagara Transit Commission proposed an increase of 7.38 per cent. After a 1.5 per cent assessment growth, it became 5.88 per cent for its operating budget. This amounted to a 2025 base gross operating budget of $85 million and net base Special Tax Levy of $60 million.

  This budget approach considers several factors such as a finalized collective agreement with employees, adjustments related to inflationary increases and an increase to transfer to the Capital Reserve. This is necessary as there were zero reserves upon the amalgamation of transit in 2022 to create the Niagara Transit Commission.

  Councillors asked staff for further information on intermunicipal ridership and transit routes. This item was deferred to the Budget Committee meeting on Nov. 7.

• Water and wastewater rates

  Water and wastewater

  The Budget Committee meeting discussed the water and wastewater rates that the Region sets. Water bills include Region and local municipality fees. Watch the Budget Basics: Understanding Water Rates video to learn about these rates.

  Staff reported that about 44 per cent of the Region's water plant assets and 49 per cent of wastewater plant assets are in poor to very poor condition. This was assessed by the Region's Asset Management Office.

  The proposed combined water and wastewater rate budget increase is 12.27 per cent or a $19 million increase. 7.22 per cent of that increase is set for investment in Capital contributions due to the need to support our assets across Niagara. The other 5.05 per cent is related to sustaining these core services. This includes an increase in staffing to support managing the conditions of these assets.

  Niagara Transit Commission

  Following the deferral from the Budget Committee meeting on Oct. 17, staff came back with information requested by Councillors related to Niagara Transit Commission's proposed budget. The staff report for this operating budget was carried.

• Agencies, boards and commissions

  Agencies, boards and commissions include the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, Niagara Regional Housing, Niagara Regional Police Service and Court Services.

  The report for the Court Services operating budget saw an overall increase in net revenues of $1.76 million over 2024. There was a slight increase in net revenues of $35,000 related to base services and a $1.725 million increase in net revenues related to automated speed enforcement as part of the Vision Zero program. These net revenues are equally allocated between the Region and the cities / towns in Niagara.

  The report for Niagara Regional Housing was carried with a proposed operating budget including a 2.4 per cent increase from last year.

  The proposed operating budget for the Niagara Regional Police Service was carried with a close 15-14 vote by members of Council. The report came in starting at 15.1 per cent but was reduced to 13.18 per cent by phasing in the hiring of new personnel over time. The 13.18 per cent increase aligns with other police service budget increases in other Ontario municipalities.

  The report for Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority's proposed 2025 operating budget was carried. The budget takes into account the need for critical investment in infrastructure projects to maintain levels of service. This budget has a 9.48 per cent increase from 2024 or $690,000.

Key dates