City Council Endorses Draft 2025 Budget

City Council has endorsed a Draft 2025 Budget that outlines investments in municipal services and infrastructure.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

There is a proposed 6.72 per cent all-inclusive rate increase that equates to $10.44 per month per $100,000 of property assessment for the typical residential property.

Council is expected to consider final approval of the City’s 2025 Budget on Feb. 3

Through its budget deliberations in November, Council cut spending in several areas and added back funding that had been removed earlier in the budget to reduce the property tax requirement. Council started with a 7.8 per cent all-inclusive rate increase when the draft budget was initially presented.

To reduce the tax requirement for residents and businesses, the Council asked the Peterborough County/City Paramedics and Peterborough Police Services Board to reduce their requested increases for 2025. Peterborough Paramedics reduced its funding request to $7,299,067, an increase of $488,270, or 7.2 per cent, from 2024. Peterborough Police Services Board responded with a request for $37,802,241, an increase of $2,727,054, or 7.8 per cent, from 2024 – after initially requesting an 8.8 per cent increase.

Council made many changes to the City’s Draft 2025 Budget to reduce the property tax requirement by decreasing spending, increasing revenue and drawing from reserve funds.

Among the changes to the draft budget, Council:

• Restoring $298,153 for Community Grants that had been cut from the draft budget

• Adding a $500,000 interest-free loan for the replacement of the roof at Showplace Performance Centre

• Increasing Transit fares by 25 cents to generate an estimated $125,000 in revenue

• Reducing the proposed 2025 stormwater management funding by $620,000

• Providing $250,000 from the Social Services Reserve to help fund architectural, engineering and planning services for the proposed new Brock Mission Housing Project that would create 50 transitional housing units

• Drawing $904,000 from the Social Services Reserve for several housing and homelessness services enhancements, including extending the Trinity Community Centre overnight drop-in program to a full-year service, increasing funding to the Housing Stability Fund, and increasing the capacity of the Brock Mission shelter to 40 beds from 32 beds

• Restoring funding for discretionary benefits, which had been proposed to be reduced, at a cost of $235,695

• Reducing preventative maintenance at municipal facilities for a savings of $153,000

• Ending the lifeguard service for swimming at Roger’s Cove for a savings of $39,995 (lifeguard service continues to be provided at the nearby Beavermead Park beach)

• Ending the maintenance of the Trent-Severn Waterway canal south of the Lift Lock in winter for skating for a savings of $100,000

• Reinstating a $150,000 annual payment to the Downtown Business Improvement Area that had been proposed to be removed

• Removing a $132,500 expense for contracting streetscape maintenance services to the Downtown Business Improvement Area as the City will directly provide the service in 2025

• Reducing spending on graffiti management, forestry contractual services, and street cleaning totalling $60,000

• Reducing Transit expenses for cleaning supplies and contractual services by $75,000

• Reducing the budget provision for insurance premiums by $115,000

Through its 2025 Budget, Council has endorsed transitioning stormwater funding from the tax base to a dedicated user fee effective April 1, using a simplified interim rate structure. The proposed user fee will replace what is being paid by property owners through the property tax base and place a charge, or a user fee, on the utility bill. Unlike many municipalities with dedicated stormwater networks and raise the necessary funding through a user fee, the City of Peterborough currently funds the program through the tax base.

The benefits to implementing a Stormwater Management Fee according to the City include:

• Dedicating a funding stream allocated back to providing the service

• Awareness and transparency showing owners what they pay for the service and what is required for capital and operating costs

• Fairness where owners may pay based on stormwater contribution as opposed to property assessment

• Introducing the opportunity for economic incentives, giving owners the opportunity to reduce their costs associated with delivering the service

The Budget details investments in municipal services and infrastructure, such as water and wastewater infrastructure and treatment, garbage collection, the Green Bin program, the landfill and composting facilities, affordable housing, homelessness services, roads, recreation and parks, arts and culture, policing, fire services, paramedics, and public health.

The Draft 2025 Budget, as presented on Nov. 4, includes $411 million in operating expenses, with $185.9 million from property taxes and the remainder funded by other revenues such as grants from other governments, user fees and service charges.

On the capital side, the Draft 2025 Budget as presented on Nov. 4, includes $147.4 million for 174 projects such as the Transit Garage Replacement, police station renovations, major infrastructure work on Brealey Drive between Lansdowne and Sherbrooke streets, updating and replacing equipment at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and various road projects.

The City started the 2025 Budget process in March 2024 with community consultation, including a survey and public meetings held through March and April. Council held General Committee meetings in June to review information and consider input from the community. Council considered detailed breakdowns of budget implications for services and capital projects before recommending guidelines for preparing the Draft 2025 Budget.

Council heard from public delegations on the Draft 2025 Budget at a meeting on Nov. 12.

The City held informal public meetings on Nov. 7 and Nov. 12 to present information, respond to questions and get feedback on the Draft 2025 Budget ahead of Council’s deliberations.

On Dec. 9, 2024, Council gave final approval to specific projects and programs in the 2025 Budget to allow that work to proceed while Council considers the remainder of the Draft 2025 Budget. Council also approved the 2025 User Fees and Charges.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

City of Peterborough Discontinues Maintenance On Canal Due to Budgeting; Final Deliberations In Early February

As part of its 2025 Budget deliberations, the City of Peterborough is not maintaining a skating rink at the Peterborough Lift Lock and may remove that service as a cost-cutting measure.

File Photo.

With the canal property of Parks Canada, the City does not decide on public access to the property, according to a press release. Parks Canada has, in the past, installed steps for public access to the ice surface of the canal at the City’s request.

The City estimates an annual cost of $100,000 for maintenance, which includes activities such as regularly flooding the ice surface to create a smooth rink, snow clearing with snow clearing machines, and testing ice thickness.

The green flag was posted for safe skating on the canal beneath the Lift Lock for the following number of days for each of the past few seasons based on weather and ice conditions: 2021-2022 season, 12 days; 2022-2023 season, four days; 2023-2024 season, one day.

The City also operates an outdoor skating rink at Quaker Foods City Square on Charlotte Street. It administers a neighbourhood park rink program provided by volunteers who maintain rinks at neighbourhood parks.

City Council will continue its 2025 Budget deliberations on Jan. 20 with final approval of the 2025 Budget anticipated on Feb. 3.

The Draft 2025 Budget reflects an eight per cent all-inclusive property tax increase for 2025. City Council has indicated it would like options to reduce the all-inclusive property tax increase to seven per cent.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough County Approves 2025 Budget

Peterborough County Council has approved the 2025 Budget during Monday’s Council meeting.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The approved budget includes a 6.28 per cent tax rate increase (8.4 per cent tax levy increase) which reflects the County’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure and reducing dependency on reserve funding according to a press release.

Key highlights of the budget include:

• Dedicated Infrastructure Levy: A 2.5 per cent allocation specifically for infrastructure needs.

• Operational Sustainability: Elimination of reliance on reserved funding to support ongoing operations.

• Tax Rate Adjustment: A tax rate increase of 6.28 per cent, amounting to approximately $66.00 for the average assessed household.

“Peterborough County Council is tasked with balancing the need to invest in our communities with the rising cost of living for our ratepayers,” said Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden. “This budget enables continued investment in services to meet the needs of our residents and townships, provides for much-needed maintenance on key infrastructure, while eliminating the draw on reserves for operating needs. The work does not end here. County Council, the Finance Committee, and staff will continue to find efficiencies and opportunities throughout the organization in the months ahead.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Standard & Poor’s Maintains AA+ Credit Rating For City of Peterborough

Standard & Poor’s has maintained the City of Peterborough’s credit rating at “AA+” with a stable outlook in its recently released credit report on the municipality.

Standard & Poor’s is a financial services company that offers services including credit ratings, data analysis and equity research to both the private and public sectors worldwide. File Photo.

The report cites the City’s financial management practices and political and managerial commitment to disciplined fiscal policies.

“We expect the financial administration and council will keep political consensus to implement reforms and support fiscal sustainability in the future. This has been demonstrated by higher-than-historical tax levies to support a growth-oriented capital plan,” according to a statement made by Standard & Poor’s.

The ”AA+” rating is the second highest on Standard & Poor’s credit rating scale. 

They commented in its credit report that the City benefits from a diversified economy. It specifically cited an active tourism industry and growth in the manufacturing and aerospace sectors, which are fostering advancements in technology and creating jobs.

“We expect Peterborough's stable economy and prudent management will continue to support strong operating balances of 14.6 per cent of operating revenue, on average, from 2024-2026. While we expect significantly elevated capital spending on large projects will lead to high after-capital deficits in the short term, as the projects near completion, we expect deficits will decrease in 2025-2026,” stated the credit rating agency.

Standard & Poor’s commented that the local economy is “somewhat constrained” by an older population and that aging demographics could lead to greater spending on social services and budgetary pressures in the future.

Among the observations for the City of Peterborough’s strong credit rating, Standard & Poor’s has cited: 

• The City's exceptional liquidity position and supportive institutional framework continue to bolster its credit profile

• Peterborough demonstrates good financial management practices

• An extremely predictable and supportive local and regional government framework that has demonstrated high institutional stability and evidence of systemic extraordinary support in times of financial distress

• The City’s after-capital deficits will stay elevated in the short term, primarily driven by substantial spending on transportation projects and the new community complex

• The City’s debt burden will remain manageable and supported by robust liquidity

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Rally Planned To Oppose 2025 Budget Cuts to Arts and Social Services

A coalition of activists, organizations and citizens will gather at Peterborough City Hall to rally against proposed budget cuts to social services and arts organizations in the 2025 budget on Tuesday afternoon.

File Photo.

The rally will begin at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall, with a lineup of speakers. It is organized by the Community Race Relations Committee of Peterborough, The Centre for Gender and Social Justice, OPIRG Peterborough, BLM Nogojiwanong and community members and will be followed by a community debrief session at Dreams of Beans.

The Centre for Gender & Social Justice released the following statement regarding the proposed budget cuts:

“These cuts would divert essential funds from community support services to increased policing costs, a shift that organizers say undermines the wellbeing of Peterborough’s most vulnerable residents and damages the network of grassroots organizations working to support them.

Peterborough’s city council recently proposed a budget that would cut funding to 75 social service and arts organizations by 25 per cent, including vital groups like the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, Community Race Relations Committee, and Peterborough Drug Strategy. These organizations provide critical support in crisis intervention, mental health, addiction counselling, and harm reduction. Many of these services fill gaps that policing does not address, using trauma-informed care, cultural sensitivity, and restorative justice to meet community needs and foster safety without punitive measures.”

The rally will feature speeches from leaders of affected organizations, local activists and community members who rely on these services. Poetry and storytelling highlighting the budget cuts’s impact of these cuts will be told during the rally.

The speaker list includes Sneha Wadhwani, local poet and activist; Bill Kimball, Public Energy Coordinator and Nico Koyanagi from OPIRG Peterborough.

These are the key messages of the rally according to a press release:

• Stop the Defunding of Social Services: The community urges council to protect funding for essential organizations that provide support, intervention, and resilience-building for those in need.

• Reject Police Budget Increases: With an 8.8 per cent increase in the police budget, including funding for new facilities and equipment, community members are concerned about prioritizing policing over proactive social services.

• Demand Transparent and Inclusive Budget Consultation: Only 227 residents participated in the budget consultation process. Organizers are calling for greater community engagement and transparency in future budgeting decisions.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

City of Peterborough Posts 2025 Draft Budget For Public Review

The City of Peterborough’s Draft 2025 Budget has been posted ahead of a series of public meetings in November and December to be adopted on Dec. 9.

File Photo.

Council is expected to hear a brief presentation and receive the Draft 2025 Budget for information, with no discussion or debate on the topic, at its meeting that starts at 5:30 p.m. on Monday in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The meeting can be viewed live online.

The Draft 2025 Budget will be posted on the City’s website following Monday's presentation to Council. For information on the City of Peterborough budget, visit.

A public meeting will be held on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall at Healthy Planet Arena. The meeting will include a brief presentation on the draft budget and an opportunity for residents to speak with city staff.

There will be an informal drop-in opportunity to speak with City staff about the Draft 2025 Budget from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 12 in the main foyer of City Hall, 500 George St. N. There will not be a staff presentation at this session. It is an opportunity to drop in to speak with the City’s budget team in an informal setting to ask questions and share comments ahead of the formal meeting of the City Council’s General Committee later that evening.

Residents can register to speak to Council about the Draft 2025 Budget during Council’s General Committee meeting at 6 p.m. on Nov. 12 in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Visit peterborough.ca/delegations or call 705-742-7777 ext. 1820 to register as a delegation.

Council will hear from certain local boards and agencies on their 2025 Budget requests to the City during a General Committee meeting at 3 p.m. on Nov. 12 in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and can be watched online at peterborough.ca/WatchCouncil.

Council is expected to review, discuss and debate the Draft 2025 Budget during a General Committee meeting that will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 18 and 19 in the Council Chambers at City Hall. There are no public delegations during the General Committee meeting on Nov. 18 to 19. The meetings are open to the public and can be watched live.

Following Council’s review of the Draft 2025 Budget, the Mayor is expected to consider the recommendations from Council and table the Mayor’s 2025 Budget for the City of Peterborough at the Council meeting on Dec. 9. The City anticipates that the budget will be adopted on the same date. There is another opportunity for registered public delegations to speak at this meeting. To register as a delegation, visit peterborough.ca/delegations or call 705-742-7777 ext. 1820.

The City started the 2025 Budget process in March 2024 with community consultation, including a survey and public meetings held throughout March and April. In June, the council held General Committee meetings to review information and consider input from the community. The council considered detailed breakdowns of budget implications for services and capital projects before recommending guidelines for preparing the Draft 2025 Budget.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

OLG Makes Fourth-Quarter Payment of Over $670,000 to The City of Peterborough

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has made its fourth quarter payment of $678,417 to the City of Peterborough for hosting Shorelines Casino Peterborough, announced on Friday.

Since 1994, host communities have received more than $2 billion in non-tax gaming revenue. File Photo.

During OLG’s fiscal year (April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024), Peterborough has received $2,973,019. Since the gaming site opened in October 2018, Peterborough has received $12,377,384.

These payments to the host communities are based on a formula consistently applied across all gaming sites in Ontario using a graduated scale of gaming revenue at the hosted site according to a press release.

“For decades, profits from gaming have been an important source of funding for Ontario communities, helping to deliver vital services and making a real difference for gaming host municipalities,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “This is one of the many different ways Ontario continues to create good-paying, local jobs that play a critical role in supporting our economy, while ensuring a socially responsible gaming environment for people to enjoy.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Fleming College Offering Free Tax Clinic For Eligible Residents During March

Fleming College is offering free tax clinics to any eligible persons this March.

Administered through a program with the Canada Revenue Agency, the community tax clinics are supervised by Accounting program instructors and organized with the help of Enactus Fleming College’s Keys to Me program. Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

The clinics are open to eligible community members and Fleming students. Accounting students provide the clinics as a hands-on learning experience in their chosen field.

Clinics take place each Monday from March 4 to April 1 from noon to 4 p.m. in the Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre at Fleming’s Sutherland Campus.

To be eligible for the free clinics, individuals must:

• Have an income of $35,000 or less for individuals

• Have a combined income of $45,000 or less for a couple

• Have a combined income of $47,500 or less for a family of three

• Have a combined income of $50,000 or less for a family of four

Students will not prepare returns for anyone self-employed, for those who have capital gains or losses, employment expenses or have filed for bankruptcy.

Eligible residents can make an appointment at the clinic by emailing taxclinic@flemingcollege.ca, or registering online. Walk-ins can also be accommodated depending on availability.

Free parking is available for residents travelling to the Sutherland Campus for the tax clinic. Fleming requests that anyone coming to email the clinic in advance with your licence plate information and date of arrival to qualify for the free parking.

Anyone attending the clinic is asked to bring the following information:

• Social Insurance Number

• T2202A Tuition Receipt (if applicable)

• Rent Receipts for rent paid in Ontario in 2023 (if applicable)

• Medical expense receipts

• T4 Statement of Income (provided by your employer if you worked in Canada in 2023)

• Any other tax related slips you may receive in the mail, like a T5 or a T3 slip (for investment income)

• International students and new Canadians filing a tax return for the first time will need to provide their date of arrival in Canada

Fleming also welcomes eligible residents to drop off their tax information.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough County Council Approves 2024 Budget

Peterborough County Council has approved the 2024 Budget entails a rise in the levy by 6.29 per cent during Wednesday’s meeting.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough County.

The budget changes include:

• a dedicated infrastructure levy set at 2.5 per cent

• an increase of 2.57 per cent for the Operating Budget

• and an increase of 1.22 per cent for the Shared Services Budget

This increase in the levy translates to a tax rate increase of 5.69 per cent or approximately $21.81 for every $100,000 in residential assessment.

“Peterborough County staff were tasked with presenting a budget that is both responsible and comprehensive, and they successfully fulfilled that mandate,” said Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden. “This budget will enable the County to tackle both operational and capital infrastructure needs, all while managing the challenges of inflation and the cost of living that persistently affect our ratepayers as well as the County's operations, finances, and those of our service provider partners.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Sonnet Insurance and Kawartha Credit Union Partner To Offer Home and Auto Insurance Coverage To Kawartha Members

Kawartha Credit Union (KCU) and Sonnet Insurance have teamed up to provide home and auto insurance for Kawartha’s members.

Photo courtesy of Kawartha Credit Union.

Sonnet is known as the country’s first coast-to-coast fully online home and auto insurance companies according to a press release.

It also states that members will have access to competitive prices including usage-based insurance options, valuable offers and potential savings of hundreds of dollars by bundling home and auto insurance, in addition to top-tier care from Sonnet’s fully licensed insurance advisors along the way.

“Kawartha Credit Union is committed to supporting our members with the best products, services, and advice to assist them in achieving their financial goals,” comments Norah McCarthy, KCU president and CEO. “Through this relationship with Sonnet, we are pleased to provide our members with access to savings on easy-tounderstand insurance options that help them get the coverage they need, with the exceptional service they are accustomed to receiving at Kawartha.”

“We are excited to team up with Kawartha Credit Union to offer their members reliable coverage to protect what matters most,” said Eric Marion, Sonnet VP of Group Insurance. “This relationship means we are well positioned to provide our secure, affordable, and easy online insurance experience to members.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.