Draft Budget 2025
This report provides a high-level summary and overview of the Draft 2025 Tax and Rate Supported Operating and Capital Budgets tabled at City Council on November 13, 2024. These budgets are summarized in this report, while the budget books for each Standing Committee provide detailed proposed changes in each service area.
The Draft 2025 Operating and Capital Budget reflects an increase of 2.9 per cent for the Citywide levy and Police Services levy, and eight percent for the Transit levy. The budget tabled on November 13, 2024, adheres to Council’s direction of setting a municipal tax increase of no more than 2.9 per cent for Citywide tax levy supported departments, which includes funding for Ottawa Public Library and Ottawa Public Health. The Ottawa Police Services’ draft budget reflects a Police Services levy increase of no more than 2.9 per cent. The rate supported budget is set in accordance with the approved 2017 Long Range Financial Plan (LRFP) V – Water, Wastewater and Stormwater supported programs. The Garbage Fee is increased in accordance with the approved Solid Waste Services Master Plan adjusted to Councils direction of a seven per cent increase for 2025.
The Draft 2025 Transit Operating and Capital Budget continues to make significant investments in Transit through a gross Draft 2025 Operating and Capital Budget of $855.6 million. This represents the largest City of Ottawa Transit budget and one of the largest annual increases at 11.4 per cent.
The Draft 2025 Transit budget includes several levers which have been endorsed by the Transit LRFP working group and balances significant investments in transit and the $120 million deficit identified in the Fairness for Ottawa campaign.
- Anticipated funding of $36M from the federal and provincial governments for the Draft 2025 budget, as part of the Fairness for Ottawa Campaign in consideration of the $120 million 2025 funding deficit
- A Transit levy increase of eight per cent
- A fare increase of five per cent
- Fare discount adjustments for seniors and school boards, itemized as part of the tabled Draft 2025 Transit Budget details
- Operating efficiencies of $12.4 million with minimal service impacts
- $21.3 million in Capital efficiencies/deferrals as part of the tabled Draft 2025 Transit Budget
- Ridership projections of 80 per cent of 2019 levels
Draft Budget 2025 - External Boards
Draft Budget 2025 Magazine and Explorer
With a complex budget, the City has introduced new supports like this Budget Magazine and the Draft Budget 2025 Explorer to make understanding and engaging in the budget process easier.
This magazine provides insight into how the budget is created, what elements make up the budget, some of the key financials, an update on service reviews as well as highlights from over 100 lines of services that are advancing Council’s strategic priorities.
The Budget Explorer offers user-friendly interactive charts, graphs and tables to enhance financial literacy and transparency.
Draft Budget 2025 Magazine
Draft Budget 2025 Explorer
Table of City Services and Standing Committee reporting structure
City Services and where they report to - Standing Committee Reporting Structure.
Each City service reports to a Standing Committee. Below is a list of City services, department names and the name of the Standing Committee that each service reports to.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
City Service | Department Name |
---|---|
Planning Services - Development Review Rural and Rural Affairs | Planning, Development and Building Services Department |
Audit Committee
City Service | Department Name |
---|---|
Auditor General | Office of the Auditor General |
External Audit | External Audit |
Community Services Committee
City Service | Department Name |
---|---|
Children's Services | Community and Social Services Department |
Community Safety, Well-Being, Policy and Analytics | Community and Social Services Department |
Employment and Social Services | Community and Social Services Department |
Gender and Race Equity, Inclusion, Indigenous Relations and Social Development | Community and Social Services Department |
General Manager and Business Support Services – Community and Social Services | Community and Social Services Department |
Housing and Homelessness Services | Community and Social Services Department |
Long-Term Care | Community and Social Services Department |
Parks Maintenance Services | Public Works Department |
Community Recreation, Culture and Sport Services | Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department |
Complexes, Aquatics, and Specialized Services | Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department |
Facility Operations Service | Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department |
General Manager and Business and Technical Support Services – Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services | Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department |
Parks and Facilities Planning | Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department |
Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee
City Service | Department Name |
---|---|
By-Law and Regulatory Services | Emergency and Protective Services Department |
General Manager and Business and Technical Support Services - Emergency and Protective Services | Emergency and Protective Services Department |
Ottawa Fire Services | Emergency and Protective Services Department |
Ottawa Paramedic Service | Emergency and Protective Services Department |
Public Policy Development - Emergency and Protective Services | Emergency and Protective Services Department |
Public Safety Service | Emergency and Protective Services Department |
Environment and Climate Change Committee - Rate Supported
City Service | Department Name |
---|---|
Drinking Water (Water Linear and Customer Service/ Water Facilities and Treatment Services) | Infrastructure and Water Services Department |
Stormwater, Laboratory and Municipal Drainage Services | Infrastructure and Water Services Department |
Wastewater (Water Linear and Customer Service/ Water Facilities and Treatment Services) | Infrastructure and Water Services Department |
Environment and Climate Change Committee - Tax Supported
City Service | Department Name |
---|---|
Asset Management Services | Infrastructure and Water Services Department |
General Manager and Business and Technical Support Services - Infrastructure and Water Services Department | Infrastructure and Water Services Department |
Infrastructure Services | Infrastructure and Water Services Department |
Forestry Services | Public Works Department |
Solid Waste Services | Public Works Department |
Climate Change and Resiliency | Strategic Initiatives Department |
Finance and Corporate Services Committee
City Service | Department Name |
---|---|
City Manager's Office | City Manager's Office |
Public Information and Media Relations | City Manager's Office |
Digital Service and Innovation | City Manager's Office |
Elected Officials | Elected Officials |
Corporate Finance | Finance and Corporate Services Department |
Financial Strategies, Planning and Client Service | Finance and Corporate Services Department |
General Manager and Chief Financial Officer -and Business Support Services - Finance and Corporate Services Department | Finance and Corporate Services Department |
Human Resources | Finance and Corporate Services Department |
Information Technology Services | Finance and Corporate Services Department |
Office of the Chief Information Security Officer | Finance and Corporate Services Department |
Payroll, Pension and Benefits | Finance and Corporate Services Department |
Revenue Services | Finance and Corporate Services Department |
Service Ottawa | Finance and Corporate Services Department |
Supply Services | Finance and Corporate Services Department |
City Clerk | Office of the City Clerk |
Legal Services | Office of the City Solicitor |
Economic Development | Strategic Initiatives Department |
Housing Solutions and Investment Services | Strategic Initiatives Department |
General Manager, Business Support Services and Strategic Projects | Strategic Initiatives Department |
Light Rail Stage 2 Planning and Implementation Program | Transit Services Department |
Planning and Housing Committee
City Service | Department Name |
---|---|
Building Code Services | Planning, Development and Building Services Department |
General Manager and Business Technical Support Services, Planning, Development and Building Services | Planning, Development and Building Services |
Long-Range Land Use Planning | Planning, Development and Building Services Department |
Planning Services | Planning, Development and Building Services Department |
Right of Way, Heritage, and Urban Design | Planning, Development and Building Services Department |
Affordable Housing Development | Strategic Initiatives Department |
Transportation Committee
City Service | Department Name |
---|---|
Fleet Services | Finance and Corporate Services Department |
Right of Way, Road Cut Permits | Planning, Development and Building Services Department |
Transportation Planning | Planning, Development and Building Services Department |
General Manager and Business and Technical Support Services – Public Works Department | Public Works Department |
Operational Performance and Development Services | Public Works Department |
Parking Services | Public Works Department |
Roads Services | Public Works Department |
Traffic Services | Public Works Department |
Transit Commission
City Service | Department Name |
---|---|
OC Transpo – bus, Para Transpo and light rail | Transit Services Department |
Local Boards/Other Governing Bodies
City Service | Board |
---|---|
Committee of Adjustment | Committee of Adjustment |
Ottawa Police Service | Ottawa Police Services Board |
Ottawa Public Health | Ottawa Board of Health |
Ottawa Public Library | Ottawa Public Library Board |
Draft Budget 2025 meeting schedule
Standing Committee / Board | Date | Time |
---|---|---|
Board of Health - Budget Tabling | Monday, November 4, 2024 | 5:00pm |
Public Library Board - Budget Tabling | Tuesday, November 5, 2024 | 5:00pm |
Police Services Board - Budget Tabling (special meeting) | Wednesday, November 13, 2024 | 8:30am |
Council – Budget Tabling
|
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 | 10:00am |
Environment and Climate Change Committee | Tuesday, November 19, 2024 | 9:30am |
Planning and Housing Committee | Wednesday, November 20, 2024 | 9:30am |
Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee | Thursday, November 21, 2024 | 9:30am |
Transit Commission | Monday, November 25, 2024 | 9:00am |
Transportation Committee | Thursday, November 28, 2024 | 9:30am |
Audit Committee | Monday, December 2, 2024 | 9:30am |
Police Services Board | Monday, December 2, 2024 | 4:00pm |
Board of Health | Monday, December 2, 2024 | 5:00pm |
Finance and Corporate Services Committee | Tuesday, December 3, 2024 | 9:30am |
Public Library Board | Tuesday, December 3, 2024 | 5:00pm |
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee | Thursday, December 5, 2024 | 10:00am |
Council – Budget Consideration / Adoption | Wednesday, December 11, 2024 | 10:00am |
*Meeting dates and times are subject to change at the discretion of the respective Chair
Councillor led public consultations for Draft Budget 2025
Date | Councillor | Ward | Location | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
Monday October 7, 2024 | Theresa Kavanagh | Ward 7 Bay | Virtual: Registration required (External) | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM |
Laine Johnson | Ward 8 College | |||
Sean Devine | Ward 9 Knoxdale - Merivale | |||
Monday October 16, 2024 | Ariel Troster | Ward 14 Sommerset | Virtual (External) | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM |
Jeff Leiper | Ward 15 Kitchissippi | |||
Monday October 21, 2024 | Rawlson King | Citywide - Equity Budget Consultation |
|
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM |
Tuesday October 22, 2024 | Clarke Kelly | Ward 5 West Carleton-March | West Carleton Community Centre - 5670 Carp Road, Ottawa | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
Wednesday October 23, 2024 | Matt Luloff | Ward 1 Orléans East-Cumberland | Rideau Valley Conservation Centre - 3889 Rideau Valley Drive, Ottawa | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM |
Clarke Kelly | Ward 5 West Carleton-March | |||
Catherine Kitts | Ward 19 Orléans South-Navan | |||
George Darouze | Ward 20 Osgoode | |||
David Brown | Ward 21 Rideau-Jock | |||
Thursday October 24, 2024 | Rawlson King | Ward 13 - Rideau-Rockcliffe | Virtual: Registration required (External) | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM |
Saturday October 26, 2024 | Matthew Luloff | Ward 1 Orléans East-Cumberland | Ray Friel Recreation Complex, Rendez-Vous Room - 1585 Tenth Line Road, Ottawa | 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM |
Laura Dudas | Ward 2 Orléans West-Innes | |||
Tim Tierney | Ward 11 Beacon Hill-Cyrville | |||
Catherine Kitts | Ward 19 Orléans South-Navan | |||
Tuesday November 19, 2024 | David Hill | Ward 3 Barrhaven West | Virtual (External) | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM |
David Brown | Ward 21 Rideau-Jock | |||
Steve Desroches | Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek | |||
Wilson Lo | Ward 24 Barrhaven East | |||
Wednesday November 20, 2024 | Jessica Bradley | Ward 10 Gloucester-Southgate | Jim Durrell Recreation Centre - 1265 Walkley Road, Ottawa | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM |
Riley Brockington | Ward 16 River | |||
Shawn Menard | Ward 17 Capital | |||
Marty Carr | Ward 18 Alta Vista | |||
Thursday November 21, 2024 | Stéphanie Plante | Ward 12 Rideau Vanier | Virtual: Registration required (External) | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM |
Tuesday November 26, 2024 | Cathy Curry | Ward 4 Kanata North |
|
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM |
Allan Hubley | Ward 23 Kanata South | |||
Glen Gower | Ward 6 Stittsville |
We want your input on Ottawa's budget
Wondering how you can provide your feedback on this and future budgets?
There are year-round options to provide your feedback.
You can: Submit your ideas to your Ward Councillor.
Follow and engage with us on Facebook and X @ottawacity, using the hashtag #OttBudget
Each fall, the City seeks Council approval of its budget directions, which includes setting the recommended municipal tax rate and outlining the approach and timetable for consultation and consideration.
Once this is approved, you can participate in the budget consultations on Engage Ottawa.
In November, the budget is tabled at a special Council meeting.
Following tabling, residents can provide feedback on the draft budget in the following ways: Participate in Councillor-led public consultations.
Ask questions on Engage Ottawa.
Community delegations can register to make a brief presentation to each Standing Committee considering a budget
Following these Committee meetings, Council approves its budget at a special meeting in December. It’s your budget, so have your say.
We look forward to hearing from you!
How does the City compare with other municipalities
Find out how the City budget affects your property taxes, and what your taxes pay for.
If you are interested in learning more about municipal assessments and how Ottawa compares to other Ontario municipalities pleas take a look at 2022 Municipal Study conducted by BMA Management Consulting Inc.
How the City of Ottawa compares
City | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Cumulative Total | Compounded Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ottawa | 1.91% | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.00% | 3.00% | 3.00% | 3.00% | 3.00% | 2.50% | 2.50% | 26.91% | 30.44% |
Toronto | 2.23% | 2.75% | 1.30% | 3.29% | 2.91% | 3.58% | 2.00% | 0.51% | 2.90% | 5.50% | 9.50% | 36.47% | 42.78% |
Edmonton | 4.92% | 5.70% | 4.10% | 3.10% | 3.20% | 2.60% | 2.08% | 0.00% | 1.90% | 4.96% | 8.90% | 39.86% | 47.54% |
Calgary | 5.00%* | 4.20% | 6.10% | 0.00% | 3.80% | 3.45% | 1.50% | -1.66% | 3.61% | 5.50% | 7.80% | 39.30% | 46.61% |
Vancouver | 1.90% | 2.40% | 2.30% | 3.90% | 4.24% | 4.50% | 8.20% | 5.00% | 6.35% | 10.70% | 7.50% | 56.99% | 73.71% |
Get involved in the budget process - Have your say
There are many ways to stay informed and participate in the budget process
Year-round
- Submit your ideas to your Ward Councillor
- Call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401). Rural residents call 613-580-2400
- Follow and communicate with us on Facebook and X @ottawacity, using the hashtag #OttBudget
September - October
Participate in the budget consultations on Engage Ottawa
September
The Budget Directions Report is presented to Council in September. The purpose of the report is to provide Council with an outline of the projected pressures that the City will be facing, including:
- A list of projected efficiencies and opportunities
- Impacts related to Provincial and Federal funding
- Impacts related to compensation and benefit increases from contract settlements
- Impacts related to inflationary pressures such as fuel and capital driven by the supply chain and economic conditions
- The proposed annual increase in property taxation
- Outlining the budget allocation targets for the Boards and Transit Commission
September-November
Following the Budget Directions Report by Council, staff build the draft budget.
November
- The draft budget is tabled at Council in November.
- Following tabling, residents can provide feedback on the draft budget in the following ways:
- Participate in Councillor-led public consultations. Check back regularly on this page or on Engage Ottawa as dates will be added when they are available
- Ask questions on Engage Ottawa
- Follow along with Standing Committee meetings. At the meetings, there is an opportunity for community delegations to register and make a brief presentation to the Standing Committee.
December
Council will consider the draft budget for adoption in December. The adopted budget books will be updated and posted on Ottawa.ca