The City drives change in the way it delivers services and is constantly looking at ways to make tax dollars go further. The City continually works to find efficiencies and build innovation into the way it does business. All City departments conduct line-by-line reviews of their budgets each year and have embraced a culture of innovation to find savings wherever possible.
Did you know? Ontario municipalities receive only 9 cents of every tax dollar raised in Ontario, while the Provincial and Federal governments receive 44 cents and 47 cents respectively. In contrast to this, municipalities own 57% of the capital infrastructure, while the Provincial Government owns 41% of Infrastructure and the Federal Government only 2%.
Barrie taxes are very comparable to other municipalities. In fact, they are in the lower end of other major southern Ontario cities. In 2025, S&P Global upgraded the City of Barrie’s Credit Rating to ‘AAA’—the highest possible rating.
2025 Efficiencies & Innovations
Between the 2025 and 2026 budgets, staff implemented 109 process improvements—up from 82 during the previous budget cycle—resulting in:
- 6,579 hours of staff time saved
- A $853,000 estimated financial impact (savings, avoidance and increased revenue)
The various efficiencies and innovations are highlighted in the 2026 budget. The initiatives collectively enhance operational efficiency and support reinvestment across the City.