2021 Budget
Each year, staff work to balance the cost of providing City services with existing resources. 2021 was more challenging than usual given the significant financial impacts the City is facing through the wake of COVID-19.
City Council approved the lowest tax increase in 20 years for 2021. After many amendments to the City's
proposed budget, Council approved a 0.92% tax increase for 2021 on January 25.
Full details.
For the average Barrie home (including town homes, apartments & detached homes) assessed at $367,550, this increase translates to an additional $40.71 annually.
Assessed value is provided by
MPAC and is different than the market value of homes.
Budget Highlights
The 2021 operating budget includes:
- Funding for new permanent
traffic calming measures to create safer roads.
- In recognition that more people will be spending time outdoors, continued investments will be made in
parks and the
waterfront with more furniture.
- Plans to modernize
parking, moving away from paper parking passes by digitalizing various parking passes such as downtown monthly permits, resident waterfront permits, other potential residential area permits, or special event parking permits.
- New investments in
economic development to position the city for recovery following the pandemic.
- New investments to address growing demand for
customer service and
by-law enforcement.
Some key projects in the 2021 capital budget include:
Key 2021 Budget Drivers
Like many other municipalities, the City of Barrie 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 was 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 continued to look for more ways to find efficiencies through innovation, to make tax dollars go farther. In 2021, City Council approved the lowest tax increase in 20 years.
Proposed 2021 Business Plan & Budget