Update: Public consultation has concluded and the Budget Allocator Tool is now closed.

Like many other municipalities, the City is facing significant financial impacts due to the pandemic. Each year, staff work to balance the cost of providing City services with existing resources. 2021 will be more challenging than usual given the significant financial impacts the City is facing through the wake of COVID-19. During the 2021 budgeting cycle, staff and Council will continue to look for more ways to find efficiencies through innovation, to make tax dollars go farther.

2021 Budget Allocator Results

Below are the submitted response percentages of each focus area. To view the full comments and results, refer to “Appendix G” in the staff report.

Development Services:

• Maintain current spending: 52.44%
• Decrease spending by 5%: 29.85%
• Increase spending by 5%: 17.71%

Fire and Emergency Services:

• Maintain current spending: 70.29%
• Decrease spending by 5%: 19.80%
• Increase spending by 5%: 9.90%

Police:

• Decrease spending by 5%: 63.74%
• Maintain current spending: 30.13%
• Increase spending by 5%: 6.14%

Roads:

• Increase spending by 5%: 50.91%
• Maintain current spending: 41.98%
• Decrease spending by 5%: 7.11%

Transit:

• Maintain current spending: 45.19%
• Decrease spending by 5%: 31.24%
• Increase spending by 5%: 23.57%

Libraries:

• Maintain current spending: 42.68%
• Decrease spending by 5%: 31.94%
• Increase spending by 5%: 25.38%

Recreation & Culture Services:

• Maintain current spending: 38.77%
• Decrease spending by 5%: 35.01%
• Increase spending by 5%: 26.22%

Solid Waste Operations:

• Maintain current spending: 76.43%
• Increase spending by 5%: 14.92%
• Decrease spending by 5%: 8.65%

Parks and Forestry Operations:

• Maintain current spending: 47.70%
• Increase spending by 5%: 34.03%
• Decrease spending by 5%: 18.27%

Information Technology:

• Maintain current spending: 51.60%
• Decrease spending by 5%: 26.50%
• Increase spending by 5%: 21.90%

Economic and Creative Development

• Increase spending by 5%: 34.87%
• Maintain current spending: 34.73%
• Decrease spend by 5%: 30.40%

How do you want your tax dollars spent?

Throughout the 2021 Business Plan & Budgeting cycle, taxpayers can share what’s important to them through the Budget Allocator tool. Try increasing or decreasing the budget for each area, all while maintaining a balanced budget!

The Budget Allocator includes several major service areas in the tax rate operating budget that impact the daily lives of residents and businesses. Many additional service areas and factors will be taken into consideration when developing the 2021 Budget.

You can provide your feedback using the Budget Allocator Tool until December 18, 2020. Results and comments will be shared with Council during the 2021 Business Plan & Budget deliberations, which will help provide insight into the public’s priorities. Subject to Council’s discussions, the budget is scheduled to be approved on January 25, 2021.

Learn more at barrie.ca/budget