2026 Belleville Operating Budget

Operating budget projects reports

Approved operating budget

The approved 2026 Operating Budget is $230,262,400 in gross expenditures and $147,727,800 in net expenditures supported by property taxes.

The increase in property tax required is $9,519,500 or 6.89% over the 2025 Operating Budget after $745,800 (0.55%) worth of reductions (cuts and fee increases) and being offset by 1.06% growth in property assessment in the City based on MPAC’s final roll.

• Belleville Urban: 5.10%
• Belleville Rural: 4.55%
• Cannifton Urban Fire: 5.05%
• Cannifton Rural Fire: 6.01%
• Cannifton Rural to Urban: 7.03%

February 25, 2026 – Operating Budget meeting

Recorded votes

• Voted twice to reject reductions of 7.77% and 5% to the police budget increase of 15.63%

Council amendments

• Added $150,000 in funding for the Economic Development Skills Program – half from the Province and half from Loyalist College from previous council meeting (D8-1)
• Reduced the 2026 Hastings County Joint Services Budget by $175,800 to reflect updated estimates:
  • Emergency Medical Services (EMS) $17,300 (D8-2)
  • Social Services – General Assistance -$58,700 (D8-3)
  • Social Housing – $132,900 (D8-4)
  • Long Term Care – Hastings Manor – $71,400 (D8-5)
  • Long Term Care – Centennial Manor – $12,900 (D8-6)
• Added POA – Automated Speed Enforcement – $336,200 (D8-7)
• Reduced Southeast Public Health Budget from 5% to 3% (D8-8)
• Removed property taxes as a source of health care service portfolio, reducing funding for the doctor recruitment program by $186,900 (D8-9)

Service level reductions approved

• Increased garbage bag tag price by $0.50 from $3 to $3.50 to raise $259,000 (D7-3)
• Discontinue Pop Ups on the Bay and Holiday Market $26,500 (0.02%) (D7-10)
• Discontinue city-funded blue box pick-up for businesses, schools and downtown properties that are currently not eligible for recycling programs under the new Producer Responsibility Model $100,000 (0.07%)
• Parking adjustments to cover the cost of 2-hour free parking – $270,000 (0.20%)
  • Add $40,000 to 2026 Capital Budget to change parking keypads to accommodate 2-hour free parking and save $52,500/year in enforcement costs
  • Increase hourly rate from $1.50 to $2.00 and daily rate from $12.50 to $16 to generate $109,900 additional revenue
  • Reduce capital contributions for parking upgrades totalling $107,600:
    • Purchase 14 Pay and Display machines for Front Street
    • Explore opportunities to implement a parking control system with gate entry/exit stations, external signage and a parking management software system
    • Establish a program to replace the current parking meters with new pay and display or pay by plate machines
  • Reduce recreation services marketing budget $12,000 (0.01%)
  • Cancel harbour security services at Meyers Pier and Victoria Park $78,000 (0.06%)
  • Reimplement Combined Heat and Power (CHP) at Quinte Sport & Wellness Centre, burns natural gas to generate heat and electricity $63,500 (0.05%)
  • Insource annual firetruck safety $30,000 (0.02%)
  • Cancel City’s Visitor Service Centre contract with the Belleville Chamber of Commerce to operate the Log Cabin and transitioning responsibility to the City’s Destination Development portfolio in the Economic Development Division $30,700 (0.02%)
  • Fire training – train the trainer $15,000 (0.01%)
  • Reduce radio and billboard advertising $22,500 (0.02%)
  • Reduce Engineering & Development Services training and new equipment $21,500 (0.02%)
  • Reduce secured transport of municipal funds and mail $30,000 (0.02%)
• Reserve fund usage
  • Waste Management – Repayment of Quinte Waste Solutions $133,000 (0.10%) from Tax Rate Stabilization (TRS) Reserve Fund
  • Transportation and Operations – Debt reserve funding $500,000 (0.36%) from Asset Management Reserve Fund
  • Transit – Operational funding $100,000 (0.07%) from Provincial Gas Tax Reserve Fund
  • Glanmore – MAT funding (25% of Capital contribution) $84,900 (0.06%) from Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) Reserve Fund
  • Quinte Arts Council grant removal – Fund from Reserve fund and final year $42,500 (0.03%) from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund
  • Doctor Recruitment – funding by Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund $75,000 (0.05%) from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund
• Phasing-in funding – using reserve funds to pay, deferring the tax impact to the following year
  • Humane Society Hastings Prince Edward – Phase-in from reserve fund for animal control $127,900 (0.09%) (D7-1)
  • FIR – Fire Master Plan – Phase-in from reserve fund for year 2 of fire boundary shifts $100,000 (0.09%) (D7-2)

Tax relief measures cancelled

• Cancel 4 hours of downtown garbage pickup and litter removal on Sundays $15,000 (0.01%) (D7-15)
• Reduce contracted services that provide specialized baseball diamond maintenance $25,000 (0.02%) (D7-16)

See: service fee increase, cuts and deferrals

Base budget adjustments approved

• New compensation agreements
• Humane Society – Pound Contract
• Hastings County – 2025 Adjusted Levy
• 2-Hour Free Parking
• Seniors Tax Rebates
• University Hospitals Kingston
• Waste Services Hazardous Waste Contract
• Waste Services – Quinte Waste Dissolution
• New long-term debt (“Amortizing Debentures”) (2025-182)

Discretionary programs approved

• 1.39% – $1,375,600 Contribution to Asset Management Reserve Fund to bridge the infrastructure gap (D4-1)
• Grant program: $539,200
  • $79,200 Community Impact funding to be provided by Casino – Social Infrastructure Reserve Fund
  • $140,000 Tourism funding to be provided by MAT Reserve Fund
  • $260,000 Social Infrastructure funding to be provided by Casino – Social Infrastructure Reserve Fund
  • $60,000 Arts & Culture funding to be provided by MAT Reserve Fund
• $4,141,000 – The Bridge (approved in 2025)
• $275,000 – Quinte Health Care
• $200,000 – University Hospitals Kingston
• $170,000 – Doctor Recruitment Program (D4-2)

External agencies and local boards budgets

• MPAC’s 2026 levy – 3.19% ($698,090.51) (D3-7)
• Quinte Economic Development Commission – 2% (total of $4.81 x 55,071 = $264,891.52) (D2-1)
• Belleville Library – 2.5% (D1-1)
• Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board – 0% (D2-2)
• Quinte Conservation – 3.56% (D2-4)
• Stirling-Rawdon and District Recreation Centre – 5.9% ($85,600) (D2-5)
• Southeast Public Health – 5% ($1,300,200) (D3-8)
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) – 8% ($5,835,100) (D3-2)
• Social Services (Hastings County) – 6% ($2,399,200) (D3-4)
• Social Housing (Hastings County) – 6% ($7,851,200) (D3-5)
• Long-term care (Hastings County) – 11.68% ($4.7M) (D3-5 and D3-6)

2026 Hastings County Joint Services Budget (D1-2)

Connor Dory (Chief Administrative Officer) and Tony Bird (Director of Finance) from Hastings County formally presented the 2026 Hastings County Joint Services Budget to the Belleville City Council.

During the presentation, they discussed the community and human services department, highlighting the challenges of “zero increases” in certain provincial funding envelopes while trying to address rising community needs. They noted that a massive portion of their capital spend – around $15 million (68%) – is dedicated to the community and human services group.

This money is largely meant to maintain their aging stock of 1,471 community housing units and to help address a daunting waitlist of over 3,500 households.

Near the end of the meeting, the City’s Treasurer announced an official adjustment to the numbers. Hastings County had updated their estimates, which resulted in a reduction of $175,800 to the city’s apportioned costs for Hastings County services.

we had preluded to this during the presentation and Hastings County’s presentation as well that there were some updates to their estimates which provided reductions. The total is $175,800.

The council subsequently passed a “housekeeping” amendment to officially reduce the budget to reflect these lower Hastings County estimates.

Proposed Operating Budget survey results

The survey received 312 responses.

Feedback:

• Affordability concerns
• Policing costs
• Service level sensitivity
• Information

Areas where would like to see additional information:

• More information on Police and Fire
• Policing cost comparisons
• Service level differences (Area Rating)
• Compensation

January 29 to February 18, 2026 – Proposed Operating Budget survey

Feedback on the proposed budget can be submitted via the survey, the 2026 Draft Budget Comment Card or by emailing [email protected].

January 29, 2026 – Proposed Operating Budget released

The proposed 2026 Operating Budget is $237,873,600 in gross expenditures and $148,075,300 in net expenditures supported by property taxes.

The increase in property tax required is $9,867,000 or 7.14% over the 2025 Operating Budget after $2,168,100 or 1.57% worth of cuts and deferrals of services and being offset by 1% growth in property assessment in the City based on MPAC’s final roll.

User fees are not meeting cost recovery targets

Cost recovery targets are set by how much a service benefits an individual vs the community as a whole. Higher cost recovery targets are set for services that mostly benefit individuals.

The budget presentation highlighted that the following services were being subsidized more than they should be by all Belleville taxpayers, keeping fees low those who use the service:

• Community Centres
• Harbours/marinas
• Waste Management (bag tags)
• Recreation Major Facilities (Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre)

Belleville increased transit fares 36% in 1 year to ensure the cost recovery kept up with inflation, tariffs and declining student ridership but has not ensured the cost of other services are paying their share – putting upward pressure on property taxes.

Here’s how much each service is funded by user fees versus property taxes and whether or not they met the City’s target:

Base budget adjustments $3,385,000 (2.45%)

Pre-approved budget items amounted to over a 6% increase before considering all other base budget adjustments and external agency costs.

Collective Agreements (staff compensation) (1.7%)

During the year three contracts were negotiated and approved.

• Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) compensation agreement $1,510,000
• Belleville Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (BPFFA) compensation agreement $489,400
• Unifor Local 1839 compensation agreement (transit operators) $347,200

Including the other compensation agreements in this section the total increase is $2,848,800 (2.06%).

Closing the infrastructure gap (1.39% to 2.2%) (D4-1)

Belleville’s Asset Management Plan identified an average annual shortfall of approximately $20.5 million over the next 10 years for tax-funded capital infrastructure. An Annual property tax increase for 10 years to fill the infrastructure funding gap by refilling the Asset Management Reserve Fund to maintain current asset levels of service.

The financial strategy recommends an annual property tax increase for 10 years of 1.39% for 10 years to fill the infrastructure funding gap by refilling the Asset Management Reserve Fund to maintain current asset levels of service. The report also noted that an increase closer to 2.2% would help reduce future debt and build reserve funds in line with the City’s reserve & reserve fund policy.

Hastings County 2025 mandate overage shoreup $759,800 (0.55%) from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund

During the 2025 Belleville operating budget meeting, Hastings County had not yet passed their budget, so the City approved budget estimates for these mandated services they provide under Operating budget issues; D2-6, and D3-1 through D3-6. Hastings County’s approved 2025 budget required a contribution from Belleville that was $759,800 higher than the approved estimates. See DF-2025-03.

Hazardous Waste Depot Contract $685,200 (0.50%)

Operation of the Hazardous Waste Program Depot, located at 75 Wallbridge Cres by GFL Environmental Services Inc.(Contract No. TOS-2025-08 P-05-25 – Hazardous Waste Program Services Depot Operations and Mobile Events) for $913,023.05 plus $118,693.00 HST, for a total of $1,031,716.05.

Program is funded by Taxation in the amount of $685,200.00 and through a service agreement with partnering municipalities in the amount of $300,000.00, including:

• Quinte West
• Prince Edward County
• Marmora and Lake
• Madoc
• Centre Hastings
• Stirling-Rawdon
• Tweed
• Tyendinaga

See: DTOS-2025-07

2-hour free parking for Downtown Belleville $270,000 (0.20%)

Council increased the hourly parking rate from $1 to $1.50 and monthly permit fees to increase revenue by $275,000 in order to make parking services self-sustaining (revenue neutral). Then, they provided 2-hour free parking at cost of $270,000, benefiting Downtown Belleville businesses and customers. Now, taxpayers will cover the parking budget’s deficit of $270,000.

Increasing Humane Society funding by 125% $255,800 (0.19%)

Council pre-approved the 2026 Pound services contract. This contract broadens service costs significantly compared to the previous contract. It is expected that in the future these costs will not increase as substantially and as a result 50% of the increase has been identified reasonable funding coverage for 2026.

Other:

• University Hospitals Kingston $50,000
• Seniors Tax Rebates $5,500
• Waste Services – Quinte Waste Dissolution -$937,900

Belleville Police Service budget increase (3.28%)

The 2026 Belleville Police Operating Budget increase of 15% ($4,531,218) represents roughly half of the total property tax increase. The Belleville Police Service budget has grown 58% in 4 years and will account for 23% of all property taxes collected.

Long-term debt (25 year) to fund infrastructure projects $1,076,700 (0.78%) and capital budget increase $311,000 (0.23%)

Debt financing increase is a result of the approved $23.1M December 1st debt draw completed. Tax funded infrastructure included Herchimer Ave & Dundas St East Reconstruction ($4.85M), North East Industrial Roads and Active Transportation ($3.0M), Black Diamond Road servicing ($9.5M) and Fire radios projects ($1.1M).

$23.1M in new long-term debt to fund infrastructure projects:

• Herchimer Ave & Dundas St East Reconstruction ($4.85M)
• North East Industrial Roads and Active Transportation ($3.0M)
• Black Diamond Road property development and servicing to relocate the Belleville Agricultural Society ($9.5M)
• Fire radios projects ($1.1M)

Plus a capital budget increase $311,000 (0.23%).

Fire Master Plan adjustments (-0.27% to +1.69%)

The 2024 Fire Master Plan (FMP) upgraded fire services for 2,200 properties in the Cannifton Rural area, reclassifying them into a new “Cannifton Rural to Urban” tax area in 2025. These properties were transitioned from rural/volunteer fire service to urban/full-time fire service and the increased costs are being gradually introduced over 5 years (2025-2029).

• Belleville Urban: 5.32% (including -0.26% from FMP)
• Cannifton Urban: 5.27% (including -0.27% from FMP)
• Cannifton Rural: 6.26% (including 0.61% from FMP)
• Belleville Rural: 4.85% (including 0.72% from FMP)
• Cannifton Rural to Urban: 7.28% (including 1.69% from FMP)

Proposed tax relief measures: fee increase, service cuts, efficiencies and spending deferrals (-1.57%)

The proposed service fee increase, cuts and deferrals can be found in section D7 of the operating issues.

• Revenue increase
  • Garbage bag tag price increase by $0.50 from $3 to $3.50 to raise $259,000 (D7-3 TOS – Waste Management – Bag Tag Increase $0.50). This price would be similar to neighbouring municipalities:
    • Quinte West $3.25
    • Prince Edward County $3.25
    • Centre Hastings $3.50
    • Brighton $4.25
    • Deseronto $3.50
    • Northumberland county $4.25
  • It would bring the cost recovery ratio for the overall waste management portfolio to 60%. It should be noted that survey results identified this as a less desirable user fee.
• Service cuts and adjustments (D7-10 to D7-24)
  • Discontinue Pop Ups on the Bay and Holiday Market $26,500 (0.02%)
  • Discontinue city-funded blue box pick-up for businesses, schools and downtown properties that are currently not eligible for recycling programs under the new Producer Responsibility Model $100,000 (0.07%)
  • Parking adjustments to cover the cost of 2-hour free parking – $270,000 (0.20%)
    • Add $40,000 to 2026 Capital Budget to change parking keypads to accommodate 2-hour free parking and save $52,500/year in enforcement costs
    • Increase hourly rate from $1.50 to $2.00 and daily rate from $12.50 to $16 to generate $109,900 additional revenue
    • Reduce capital contributions for parking upgrades totalling $107,600:
      • Purchase 14 Pay and Display machines for Front Street
      • Explore opportunities to implement a parking control system with gate entry/exit stations, external signage and a parking management software system
      • Establish a program to replace the current parking meters with new pay and display or pay by plate machines
    • Cancel 4 hours of downtown garbage pickup and litter removal on Sundays $15,000 (0.01%)
    • Reduce contracted services that provide specialized baseball diamond maintenance $25,000 (0.02%)
    • Reduce recreation services marketing budget $12,000 (0.01%)
    • Cancel harbour security services at Meyers Pier and Victoria Park $78,000 (0.06%)
    • Reimplement Combined Heat and Power (CHP) at Quinte Sport & Wellness Centre, burns natural gas to generate heat and electricity $63,500 (0.05%)
    • Insource annual firetruck safety $30,000 (0.02%)
    • Cancel City’s Visitor Service Centre contract with the Belleville Chamber of Commerce to operate the Log Cabin and transitioning responsibility to the City’s Destination Development portfolio in the Economic Development Division $30,700 (0.02%)
    • Fire training – train the trainer $15,000 (0.01%)
    • Reduce radio and billboard advertising $22,500 (0.02%)
    • Reduce Engineering & Development Services training and new equipment $21,500 (0.02%)
    • Reduce secured transport of municipal funds and mail $30,000 (0.02%)
• Reserve fund usage
  • Waste Management – Repayment of Quinte Waste Solutions $133,000 (0.10%) from Tax Rate Stabilization (TRS) Reserve Fund
  • Transportation and Operations – Debt reserve funding $500,000 (0.36%) from Asset Management Reserve Fund
  • Transit – Operational funding $100,000 (0.07%) from Provincial Gas Tax Reserve Fund
  • Glanmore – MAT funding (25% of Capital contribution) $84,900 (0.06%) from Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) Reserve Fund
  • Quinte Arts Council grant removal – Fund from Reserve fund and final year $42,500 (0.03%) from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund
  • Doctor Recruitment – funding by Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund $75,000 (0.05%) from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund
• Phasing-in funding – using reserve funds to pay, deferring the tax impact to the following year
  • Humane Society Hastings Prince Edward – Phase-in from reserve fund for animal control $127,900 (0.09%) (D7-1)
  • FIR – Fire Master Plan – Phase-in from reserve fund for year 2 of fire boundary shifts $100,000 (0.09%) (D7-2)

After service cuts and deferrals

The 2026 Property Tax Calculator allows you to estimate how Belleville’s proposed 2026 operating budget may impact your property taxes.

For financial, asset management and other Key Performance Indicators, see: Belleville’s Performance Dashboards

Documents

November 20, 2025 – Belleville Police Board approves 2026 Operating Budget

See: 2026 Police Operating Budget

August 25, 2025 – Belleville approves 2026 Operating Budget Guidelines

As recommended by the Finance Committee on August 7th, the proposed 2026 Operating Budget Guidelines are as follows:

1. That the 2026 Draft Operating Budget be presented with overall residential property tax rate increases not to exceed 5%, excluding any tax rate increases generated from the 2024 Fire Master Plan phase-in approved by Council;
2. That the 2026 Draft Operating Budget consider the service areas prioritized through public input received;
3. That City Department operating issues presented in the 2026 Draft Operating Budget align with the strategic themes and initiatives outlined in the City’s Strategic Plan and Departmental Operating Plans, with priority given to those categorized as Legislative, Compliance, or Health & Safety and Maintenance of Service Levels, and where any Enhancement of Service Levels are proposed, that they align with public input received; and
4. That the 2026 Draft Operating Budget incorporate a moderate increase in its tax-funded contributions to capital projects in alignment with the financial strategy outlined in the 2025 Asset Management Plan.

Service Levels

When asked about current tax levels in relation to the services they fund, more than 70% of respondents indicated a preference to either maintain or reduce taxes, even if that meant scaling back some discretionary services.

Increased levels of service

1. Doctor recruitment
2. Road and sidewalk maintenance
3. Long-term care
4. Economic devlopment
5. Policing
6. Social housing

Decreased

1. Museums and cultural events
2. Community events
3. Bylaw enforcement
4. Parking
5. Social housing

User Fees

The survey also asked participants whether they would support increases to user fees, and if so, which ones. While just over 20% of respondents opposed any increases, most were generally open to increases across a range of services. Bag Tags received the least support for an increase, followed closely by Transit Fares. In contrast, the strongest support was for increases to Arenas and Museum Services, with additional support noted for Dog tags, Pools, Sports Fields, and Recreation Programs.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

With Departmental Plans becoming part of the annual operating budget process, residents were invited to provide input on which performance measures they felt were most useful. More than 70% of respondents felt the existing KPIs on the City’s public dashboard were sufficient. However, among those who wanted additional performance measures, there was interest in the development of KPIs that would:

• Enhance transparency by clearly outlining how tax dollars are allocated and identifying opportunities for cost savings and operational efficiencies.
• Increase public understanding of the use and effectiveness of safety services, including Police, Fire, and By-law Enforcement.
• Showcase the City’s initiatives and outcomes in addressing homelessness and social challenges to support informed funding decisions.
• Track and improve the City’s responsiveness to infrastructure needs, focusing on road, sidewalk, and general maintenance.
• Measure and report on progress related to housing affordability, economic development, and overall community growth.

June 10, 2025 – Preliminary budgets survey results

The survey was available for roughly three weeks from May 13th to June 6th with a total of 705 responses received.

1. Do you live and/or own a business in Belleville?

• I am a homeowner
• I am a business owner
• I am a tenant
• One or more of the above
• None of the above (please specify)

2. What is your tax billing area?

• Belleville Urban
• Belleville Rural
• Cannifton Urban
• Cannifton Rural
• Cannifton Rural to Urban

3. How familiar are you with how the City develops the annual Capital and Operating Budgets?

• Very familiar
• Somewhat familiar
• Not at all familiar

4. Due to the increased cost of maintaining service levels and supporting infrastructure, the City must balance property taxes with increasing demand for services. The City has a number of options when balancing the budget, which includes the management of discretionary services. Please indicate which of the following statements below comes close to capturing your point of view:

• Increase taxes to an extent that maintains tax-funded services.
• Maintain taxes, even if it means reducing some discretionary tax-funded services.
• Decrease taxes by reducing discretionary tax-funded services.
• Increase taxes to expand and/or enhance tax-funded services.

5. For each of services listed below that are directly or indirectly provided by the City, please indicate whether the level of service should be increased, maintained, or decreased. For reference, the 2025 operating budget provides information on spending by service areas.

• Building, planning, and development
• Bylaw enforcement
• Community Events
• Doctor Recruitment
• Economic development
• Firefighting and fire prevention
• Greenspaces (parks and playgrounds, sports fields)
• Heritage, museums, and cultural events
• Information technology (online forms/apps, cybersecurity, public Wi-Fi)
• Library services
• Long-term care (externally contracted)
• Parking
• Policing
• Public transit
• Recreation (arenas, camps, aquatics, fitness)
• Road and sidewalk maintenance
• Social Housing (externally contracted)
• Stormwater management
• Traffic and pedestrian safety (streetlights and signs)
• Winter maintenance (snowplowing, sanding, and salting)
• Waste and recycling collection (externally contracted)
• Water and wastewater services

6. The following services are partially funded user fees. Please identify which service(s) you would support an increase in user fees to reduce reliance on property taxes (select all that apply) 

• Arenas
• Museum & Culture Services
• Recreation Programs
• Pools
• Sports Fields
• Transit (only applicable to Belleville Urban tax billing area)
• Garbage Bag Tags
• Dog Tags/Licenses/Permits
• None of the above

7. The City intends to update its 2025 Departmental Operating Plan in the annual budget process. This document provides a comprehensive overview of past accomplishments, strategic objectives, operational goals, key initiatives, key performance indicators, and budget projections for the upcoming year. Based on the City’s existing Key Performance Indicators, are there additional performance indicators and/or activities that you would like the City to regularly report on?

8. You answered, “Yes” to the previous question, “Based on the City’s existing Key Performance Indicators, are there additional performance indicators and/or activities that you would like the City to regularly report on?”

Respondents are seeking performance metrics that:

• Enhance transparency by clearly outlining how tax dollars are allocated and identifying opportunities for cost savings and operational efficiencies.
• Increase public understanding of the use and effectiveness of safety services, including Police, Fire, and By-law Enforcement.
• Showcase the City’s initiatives and measurable outcomes in addressing homelessness and social challenges to support informed funding decisions.
• Track and improve the City’s responsiveness to infrastructure needs, focusing on road, sidewalk, and general maintenance quality.
• Measure and report on progress related to housing affordability, economic development, and overall community growth.

9. The Capital Budget is the City’s plan for making large investments in infrastructure. Capital expenses include major maintenance to public buildings, construction or purchase of new buildings, purchase of major equipment, significant road resurfacing projects, water and wastewater infrastructure, and more.

In your opinion, how important is maintaining existing infrastructure in the community? For reference, the 2025 capital budget provides information on spending by infrastructure service areas.

• Very important
• Somewhat important
• Not important
• Unsure

10. In your opinion, how important is adding new infrastructure to the community to service growth?

• Very important
• Somewhat important
• Not important
• Unsure

11. In accordance with the Asset Management Plan, the City must prioritize Capital projects and annually update its 10-year capital plan. In your opinion, select the most important infrastructure areas. (select all that apply)

• Transportation (e.g., roads, streetlights, bridges)
• Water (e.g., treatment plant, water pipes)
• Wastewater (e.g., treatment plant, wastewater pipes)
• Stormwater (e.g., culverts, stormwater manholes)
• City Facilities (e.g., community & recreation centres, City Hall)
• Parks (e.g., playgrounds)
• Fire (e.g., firetrucks, fire stations)
• Police (e.g., patrol vehicles, police station)
• Fleet & Equipment (e.g., snowplows, lawnmowers)
• Information Technology (e.g., servers, computer equipment)
• Library (i.e., facility, books)
• Parking (i.e., parking lots, meters)
• All the above

12. Where do you receive information about the City’s budget?

• City website
• City Council meetings
• Community Press
• Social Media
• Billboards/marquees
• Other

13. You responded, “Other” to the question, “If the City were to increase communication efforts on the budget, how would you prefer to receive that information?” Can you please specify?

Dashboard for the operating and capital budgets like Belleville’s KPI Dashboard showing:

5-year trends (ideally line graphs) of:

• Budgeted vs actual spending, including variance (%) and $
• Spending by category or department
• Rate of spending increase by category or department
• Spending per capita by category or department
• Rate of per capita spending increase by category or department
• Drill-down capabilities to cost centres (e.g., snow removal, garbage collection)
• Current year’s proposed budget increases by category
• Highlighting major or high-cost capital projects, including total budget and status (e.g., planned, underway, completed)

Ability to sort and filter by department, category, service type, amount, rate of increase, funding source.

14. If the City were to increase communication efforts on the budget, how would you prefer to receive that information?

• Emails/newsletters
• Social media
• Newspaper ads and notices in the Community Press
• Other (please specify)

15. I would like to sign up to receive ongoing updates on the City’s budget. (Please provide a valid email address)

May 13, 2025 – Preliminary budgets survey

The City’s Preliminary Budget Survey is meant to engage stakeholders in the early stages of the budget process and allow them to provide their feedback on operational and capital spending priorities, as well as the overall approach to budget development.

The results of the survey will be presented to the Finance Committee and Council to assist with the development of guidelines for budget preparation later this year. To learn more about the City’s budget process and to review past budgets adopted by Council, visit www.belleville.ca/budget.

May 12, 2025 – Budget timeline and public engagement communication plan