The City of Cornwall held a Resident Café event on November 5, 2024, inviting community members to participate in discussions regarding the proposed City Budget for 2025. Held at the Cornwall Civic Complex, this session allowed the dozens of residents who attended to engage directly with staff city, to ask questions and provide feedback on budget plans. The Resident Café, combined with a town hall meeting this year, reflects the city’s commitment to promoting transparency and encouraging public involvement in the budget process.

The proposed 2025 budget emphasizes strategic financial planning to support essential services while promoting growth and addressing long-term needs. It includes a 6.76 percent tax increase that would raise property taxes by about $225 for homes assessed at $176,700 (in Q3 2024, the median price of a single-family home in Cornwall was $435,000).

Mayor Justin Towndale noted, “Residents understand the impact of inflation, and while they know we can’t have a zero-growth budget, they’re asking us to keep increases reasonable.” Achieving the Council’s goal of capping growth at 4%, however, would require removing $2.5 million from the budget, presenting a challenging balance between fiscal responsibility and service delivery.

“We are seeking feedback from the public on a variety of areas – transit services, waste management, recreation, emergency services and human services,” said Tracey Bailey, interim CAO and general manager of financial services and treasurer. She emphasized the collaborative nature of the budget process, explaining: “Departments bring their budgets to the senior team, where we review and strategize together, making sure the board’s priorities are met.”

The budget aims to address inflationary pressures with an 11.4 percent ($11.9 million) increase in wages and benefits, totaling $116.3 million, to attract and retain skilled professionals. The capital budget, set at $29 million, prioritizes infrastructure maintenance, facility improvements and community housing upgrades. Towndale emphasized the importance of community understanding in these budget decisions: “I want the public to fully understand the budget – it’s probably the biggest thing council does every year. We want residents to see how funds are allocated and give them the opportunity to ask questions directly to those who work in our departments.”

Katherine Wells, Director of Government Relations and Corporate Strategy, noted the city’s efforts to make the budget more accessible and engaging, saying, “This year, we combined the Resident Café with a one-night town hall meeting based on feedback residents. . It’s a great way for the community to get involved in the budget process.” Wells also encouraged residents to leave perspectives on a vision board, which will be presented to council for further consideration.

The budget includes substantial increases to address critical service and infrastructure needs. Debt payments rose 42.23% to $8.7 million, while insurance costs rose 12.5%. Paramedic services saw a 12.14% increase with additional staff and equipment. Reserve contributions increased by 25.88% ($2.5 million) set aside to help the city plan for infrastructure maintenance, unexpected expenses and future capital projects.

Community safety has also emerged as a focal point in this year’s budget. Shawna Spowart, Chief Constable of Cornwall, explained how the new legislative requirements have affected budgetary needs, particularly in the areas of training and equipment. “Our emergency response officers now wear heavy-duty, fire-resistant gear, and front-line patrol officers deploy daily with carbine rifles and heavy-duty body armor. This equipment, while increasing safety, comes at a significant cost,” said Spowart. She also outlined future plans for community involvement regarding potential sites for a new police station.

The budget also aligns with the Council’s strategic objectives of improving housing, building community connections and promoting net zero emissions targets by 2050. These targets are central to the budget framework, guiding decisions to meet Cornwall’s evolving needs . That

The City of Cornwall’s annual budgeting process involves an annual cycle. From August to October, city departments prepare and update their budgets for the coming year. In October and November, city managers and the financial planning team review these submissions to assess overall impact. In November, the recent Cafe Residents and City Hall meeting allowed the public to provide feedback. Finally, in December, the City Council adopts the budget, sets the tax rate, and sets utility rates for water and wastewater.

A draft 2025 Operating and Capital Budget and a draft 2025 Water and Wastewater Budget can be viewed on the city’s website.