It’s a budget the city says its residents have been calling for transparency on.
The City of Burlington has released a preliminary budget highlighting its priorities for 2025. Residents are encouraged to review it and share their feedback.
In its current form, the budget projects a 5.25 percent tax increase for 2025. That also includes a projected increase in spending of just over 8 percent for Burlington.
Last year, the overall tax increase was 6.68 per cent.
The draft budget also outlines major capital projects planned for 2025 to help maintain or improve city infrastructure.
That includes $12.3 million for park renewals, $10 million for city facility repairs and $6.3 million for the Plains Road renewal.
City looking to allocate funding following devastating floods
There’s also another $5.2 million dollars budgeted for storm water management. This follows a period of severe flooding following a heavy rainfall which caused millions in damages to both private and public assets.
READ MORE: ‘It’s heartbreaking’: Burlington residents turn to city for guidance in wake of flooding
The focus will include drainage upgrades, more storm water capacity and erosion controls to try and reduce flood risks and mitigate flood damage.
Consultation meetings will be held with Mayor Marianne Meed Ward starting next week ahead of the budget approval date in November.