Back to SearchCouncil approved the 2024 Municipal Operating budget on January 29, 2024. The City’s 2024 Capital Budget was approved on December 20, 2023. These budgets include critical projects initiated by staff, Council, and community input through the Rethinking Budgeting Survey.
City Council and Administration approach the annual budget process with a goal of maintaining existing services, while also addressing the needs of future generations. We want to ensure residents have access to resources that provide a safe, healthy, and connected community. Each year our budget outlines how we will pay for the services and programs that are important to our community. We maintain over $1.3 billion worth of infrastructure that is vital to our community.
The draft Municipal Operating Budget was reviewed at special budget meetings held on November 9th, November 22nd, December 4th, 2023, and January 15th, 2024. The following provides a summary of the changes made during Council’s review:
2024 operating budget updates
1) Increased revenue tied to increase in fees and charges of $266,659
2) Approval of Communications and Public Relations staff position of $140,151
3) Enhancement to the Rural Road Maintenance program of $162,445
4) Addition of a fire fleet replacement reserve contribution of $75,198
5) Additional provincial grant funding of $694,919
6) Increased investment in information technology services of $231,682
The additional net tax levy support required for 2024 is $953,060 or 3.17%increase from the 2023 budgeted tax levy. This increase does not formally establish a tax rate. The final tax ratios will be approved by Council at a future date.
The 2024 budget cycle presented several challenges including considerable increases to the levy amounts from the City’s external organizations of $548,711, high inflationary pressures, and continued recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
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External Organizations (Ontario Provincial Police, Kenora District Services Board, Northwestern Health Unit, and Kenora Home for the Aged) account for 40% of the tax supported budget. The NWHU levy did not increase from 2023 level. The increase for 2024 is $548,711, which equals 1.8% of the overall net tax levy increase of 3.17%. This means that the City of Kenora only increased the tax levy by 1.37% based on the factors within its control.
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The rate of inflation over the twelve-month period from January to December 2023 was 3.4% which is down from a high of 5.9% in January of 2023. The resulting inflation is reflected in higher fuel costs, material and supplies, construction costs, insurance costs, and other general operating expenses.
The City of Kenora has maintained existing levels of service while enhancing rural roads maintenance, adding staffing capacity in communications, saving up for fire fleet replacement, improving information technology services while managing the significant increases from external organizations and inflationary pressures.
The City of Kenora will continue to seek out opportunities for continuous improvement to deliver more efficient services while providing strong customer service. The City recognizes the time and efforts of City staff, who worked so diligently in partnership with Council, towards developing a budget that strengthens programming, services, and improves Kenora.
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