Halton Region’s Budget Directions Report lays the foundation for keeping taxes low in 2022 while investing in key priorities for our community. The Report was approved by Regional Council on July 14, and it directs Halton staff to maintain property tax rate increases at or below the rate of inflation (2.0 per cent) while supporting our ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Report identifies priority investments in 2022 to ensure residents have access to essential services while providing for critical program enhancements to address community growth. It will also ensure next year’s Budget and Business Plan aligns with the strategic themes, objectives and outcomes outlined in the
2019–2022 Strategic Business Plan.
Some of Halton’s budget priorities for 2022 include:
- Public Health: continuing to respond to COVID-19, implement the vaccine roll-out and support recovery while assessing impact of changes to Provincial-Municipal cost share for Public Health.
- Paramedic Services: addressing increased costs associated with inflation, rising call volumes, maintaining response times, population and other growth pressures.
- Children’s Services: maintaining service levels following Provincial funding reductions and uncertainty around funding levels for 2022.
- Digital Strategy: expanding the delivery of the Region’s services online and providing staff with the ability to collaborate virtually and access information when working remotely.
- Waste Management: continuing improvements to the Halton Waste Management Site to enhance customer service experience. Also includes planning for the transition of the Blue Box program to full Producer responsibility with integration into a new Medium-Long Term Solid Waste Management Strategy in 2022.
- Transportation: supporting increased costs associated with road maintenance and resurfacing, ensuring roads are kept in a state of good repair and expanding road assets to support Provincially mandated growth.
- Rent Supplement Program: assisting households in the shelter system who are looking to transition to safe, permanent housing options.
- Homelessness: maintaining emergency shelter and supportive housing for families, couples and single women to support increased demand for services during COVID-19.
- Services for Seniors: supporting costs associated with appropriate infection prevention and control measures, staff and visitor screening, ongoing staff vaccinations and capacity to respond to further outbreaks.
- Water and wastewater system: maintaining access to water and wastewater services as the region grows by expanding infrastructure in the community and investing in the state-of-good-repair capital program.
- Basement flooding mitigation: continuing the Region-wide Basement Flooding Mitigation Program to help reduce the risk of basement flooding caused by severe weather.
- Long-term water meter strategy: installing an advanced water meter system in 2022 and deploying new meters across the region between 2022 and 2025.
Halton Region has a long history of prudent financial planning that allows us to provide reliable, high-quality programs, services and infrastructure for residents and businesses. By closely monitoring current and potential fiscal impacts, we have been able to reallocate resources to priority areas and efficiently address program pressures throughout the pandemic.
Ensuring top value for taxpayer dollars by maintaining our strong top credit rating
Halton’s budgetary planning and performance depends on our AAA and Aaa credit ratings, and I am pleased to share that we have again earned this distinction from two international rating agencies this year—Moody’s Investors Service in January and S&P Global Ratings in June. S&P’s assessment confirmed a stable outlook for the Region, recognizing Halton’s prudent financial management practices and exceptional liquidity.
By maintaining our top credit rating, Halton and the Local Municipalities have continued access to the best capital financing rates available. This minimizes long-term infrastructure capital financing costs, allowing public funds to go further when invested in Regional works that help improve our community, such as road, water and wastewater projects.
Investments in our high-quality programs allow Halton to meet the needs of our community now and into the future. The 2022 Council Budget Meeting is scheduled for December 8, 2021, and the 2022 Budget and Business Plan is scheduled to be considered for approval by Regional Council on December 15, 2021. To read the Report and learn more about Regional financial planning, visit
halton.ca.