Windsorites have a chance to see how their money will be spent this coming year.
Windsor City Council will begin a two-day period in which the 2020 spending plan will be examined. The public meeting starts at 10 a.m. Monday in council chambers. Delegations will be heard first before the discussions begin.
According to the agenda on the city's official website, a net property tax levy requirement of $420.3 million is being requested to operate the city in 2020. The city administration has asked council to approve a 3.6 per cent cumulative increase, to be divided into three areas.
First is a proposed 1.2 per cent levy increase for the city's departmental budget.
"Administration believes that the proposed budget achieves a responsible and reasonable balance between fiscal restraint and the desire to maintain or improve the levels and quality of services," read the budget summary's conclusion.
Secondly, council is being asked to consider an additional increase of $4.8 million to fund the Asset Management Plan (AMP), which has already been approved by city council. This is a provincially mandated, six-year plan to ensure the municipality has the funds to maintain all of its assets like roads, sewers, buildings, and vehicles. The increase will result in a cumulative tax levy increase of 2.4 per cent and a 2020 municipal property tax levy requirement of over $425.1 million.
Thirdly, councillors will also consider an additional increase of $5.1 million requested from various city-funded agencies, boards, and committees.
If there is no agreement in principle by Monday afternoon, deliberations will resume at 10 a.m. Tuesday and continue until an agreement is reached.
A full copy of the budget plan can be accessed on the city's official website.
-With files from Maureen Revait