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:

• New Barrie Public Library branch in the Holly area.
• Construction of Allandale Transit Mobility Hub. The terminal will coordinate local and regional transit services with seamless connections.
• Land acquisition for a new fire station to service the Mapleview Road and Prince William Way area.
• The completion of Bryne Drive from Caplan Avenue to Harvie Road to reduce traffic congestion at the Essa Road and Mapleview Drive interchanges by redirecting east / west traffic to the Harvie Road / Big Bay Point Road Highway Crossing.
• Expansion of Essa Road from Coughlin Road to Mapleview Drive West.
• Bell Farm Road reconstruction.
• Completion of the Harvie Road bridge.
• Continued focus on addressing the condition of roads and saving money over the long term with the road resurfacing program.
• Several stormwater projects to address regulatory compliance, protect Lake Simcoe and reduce flooding.

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