2021 City Budget
Consultation has concluded
Review the 2021 Capital and Operating Budget Bylaws. You may also consult the public engagement summary, pgs. 9-18.
The City relies on property tax dollars to provide the services, facilities, programs and infrastructure that contribute to your quality of life. As a member of the community, it’s important that you feel informed about the City of Kingston budget, and that you have an opportunity to share your input!
Engage with us
Over the coming weeks, the City will poll the community to start to shape the information we provide and how we engage on the budget. This will be followed by a survey that will seek more detailed input on the City’s budgets.
The City Treasurer will also host two virtual open houses to provide you with an opportunity to learn more about how the City’s budgets are developed, the unique challenges encountered when developing municipal budgets, and our roadmap to an open budget process.
Did you know the City is committed to an ongoing open budgeting process? Learn more about our plan for achieving this, and how this foundational step will help us get there.
About the City's Budget
Review the 2021 Capital and Operating Budget Bylaws. You may also consult the public engagement summary, pgs. 9-18.
The City relies on property tax dollars to provide the services, facilities, programs and infrastructure that contribute to your quality of life. As a member of the community, it’s important that you feel informed about the City of Kingston budget, and that you have an opportunity to share your input!
Engage with us
Over the coming weeks, the City will poll the community to start to shape the information we provide and how we engage on the budget. This will be followed by a survey that will seek more detailed input on the City’s budgets.
The City Treasurer will also host two virtual open houses to provide you with an opportunity to learn more about how the City’s budgets are developed, the unique challenges encountered when developing municipal budgets, and our roadmap to an open budget process.
Did you know the City is committed to an ongoing open budgeting process? Learn more about our plan for achieving this, and how this foundational step will help us get there.
About the City's Budget
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City CFO Desiree Kennedy on municipal budgeting during a pandemic
In the first episode of Tell Me More: The City of Kingston Podcast, Chief Financial Officer Desiree Kennedy tells us more about how the City survived this roller coaster budgetary year with an AA Credit Rating, what we learned, and how we move forward. We also discuss public engagement on the budget and a 2021 forecast you don't want to miss.
Listen here or wherever you enjoy your podcasts!
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2021 Operating and Capital Budget Deliberations
The 2021 City of Kingston Budget deliberations begin Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m.
Review the 2021 Operating and Capital Budgets (excluding Municipally Owned Utilities).
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Update on budget engagement
This fall, the City of Kingston asked residents to provide input on the 2021 and future operating and capital budgets. The community stepped up! During the public engagement period (Sept. 28 – Nov. 13), more than 2,300 people visited Get Involved Kingston to learn more about the budgeting process, download resource documents, pose questions, and provide input.
“I would like to thank everyone who took part in this process by attending a virtual session, completing a poll, taking the survey or telling your friends and family members,” says City Treasurer Desiree Kennedy. She adds, “We cannot achieve a meaningful open budget process without your involvement.” Learn more about the City’s commitment to an open budgeting process.
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City seeks your input on budget priorities
The City of Kingston is seeking resident input on its budget priorities as part of its open budget engagement process.
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Poll - Week 1
Thank you to everyone who completed our first weekly poll, confirming what aspects of the City’s budgets you’re most interested in learning more about. Fifty-seven per cent of respondents indicated they are most interested in the City’s operating budget!
You can learn more about the operating budget by watching this video. You may also find more detailed information by visiting CityofKingston.ca/Budget to review the 2020 budgets that were passed on Dec. 17, 2019!
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Poll - Week 2
Thank you to all who completed our second poll. Most participants indicated that they were somewhat to not at all familiar with City operating and capital budgets. Here’s a short video with more information: https://youtu.be/7sf8uAWQ10g
In November, we'll host two virtual open houses where we will provide an overview of our City budgets. Dates to be posted soon!
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A conversation about the City's finances during COVID-19
Chief Financial Officer and City Treasurer, Desiree Kennedy, talks to Jimmy Hassan, host of Community Voices on YourTV, about the City's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic's financial cost, and some of the ways the City is bridging the financial gap. Watch their conversation. Air date: Sept. 26, 2020.
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Kicking off engagement
Do you know how your City’s budget gets spent? The City is hosting a series of weekly polls to build a better understanding of which budget topics are of most interest to Kingstonians.
“As a member of the community, it’s important that you feel informed about the City’s budget, and that you have an opportunity to share your input,” says Desiree Kennedy, the City’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. “These polls will help us introduce these topics and hone our approach toward a made-in-Kingston open budgeting process.”
Key dates
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September 28 → October 16 2020
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October 19 → November 13 2020
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November 10 2020
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November 12 2020
Who's listening
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Chief Financial Officer and City Treasurer
Email budget@cityofkingston.ca -
Director, Financial Services and Deputy Treasurer
Email budget@cityofkingston.ca -
Manager, Financial Planning
Email budget@cityofkingston.ca
Project timeline
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September - October 2020
2021 City Budget has finished this stageResidents inform staff which areas of the City's budgets they are most interested in learning more about.
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October - November 2020
2021 City Budget has finished this stageResidents are engaged through a survey and virtual open houses.
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November – December 2020
2021 City Budget has finished this stageSurvey and poll results reviewed by staff.
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January 26, 27 (and Jan. 28 if required)
2021 City Budget has finished this stageBudget deliberations will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. You can livestream the review on the Kingston City Council YouTube Channel.
Follow Project
FAQs
- What is an operating budget?
- What is the capital budget?
- What is the municipal utility operating budget?
- How does the City fund its operating and capital budgets?
- What are the City’s other sources of revenue?
- What are reserves and reserve funds?
- What is the 1 per cent capital levy?
- What is long-term debt and how is it used?
- What is the City’s credit rating and how does it affect the ability to borrow money?
- How does the City carry out its planning and budgeting exercises?
Links
- How are property taxes are calculated?
- 2021 Capital Budget Bylaw
- 2021 Operating Budget Bylaw
- 2021 Operating and Capital Budgets (excluding Municipally Owned Utilities)
- Budget & Financials
- COVID-19 Response and Recovery – Year-End Projections (Council report)
- Kingston's Strategic Plan
- Council Priorities 2019-2022 Refresh
Video
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