Category Archives: Finance and budget

Guelph, Ont., March 4, 2025  –  The City of Guelph is pleased to announce Shanna O’Dwyer as General Manager, Finance – City Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. When asked about the role Shanna replied, “I am honoured to accept the role of General Manager, Finance – City Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. I moved to Guelph for my undergraduate studies at the University of Guelph, and I have lived and worked here ever since. I love our city, and I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the dedicated group of public servants and elected officials who serve Guelph. Together, we can achieve great things as we seek to meet the evolving needs of our community.” Shanna holds several credentials including a CPA designation… Continue reading City of Guelph appoints new general manager of finance

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Guelph, Ont., January 22, 2025 – Today at a special council meeting, Guelph’s Local Boards and Shared Services (LBSS) presented their updated 2025 budgets to City Council. Council approved the updated budgets with a net tax levy increase of 3.12%. Earlier in November 2024, Council adopted the City services budget, accounting for an increase of 3.66%, bringing the net tax levy impact for 2025 to 6.78%. This translates to a $322.72 annual increase based on the 2024 median residential property assessment for a single detached home and the 2024 tax policy, of which $174.21 will support City services, and $148.51 is for LBSS. “On behalf of City Council, I extend thanks to our local boards and shared services for presenting their budgets today” commented City… Continue reading Guelph’s 2025 Tax levy finalized

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Guelph, Ont., December 23, 2024 – On January 1, 2025, rates and fees for some City services and programs will increase. Check the 2025 rates, fees and charges guide for a full list of the rates and the changes with the effective date of change. The changes are part of the Council-adopted 2025 Budget Confirmation.  Water, wastewater and stormwater rates The volume charges for water will increase by nine cents to $2.21 per cubic metre, and the volume charges for wastewater will increase by 8 cents to $2.32 per cubic metre. Daily basic service charges are also changing, with the magnitude of the change depending on the size of the meter. Monthly stormwater fees will increase to $10.00—an increase of $1.20 per month.   Parking… Continue reading Some City rates and fees changing January 1

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Budget process, informed by strong community engagement, balances affordability with necessary community investments   Guelph, Ont., November 27, 2024 – Today, at a special meeting of Council, Mayor Guthrie and City Council considered amendments to the proposed 2025 budget. Following discussion and decision on each of the tabled amendments, Council voted to close the amendment period, and the Mayor confirmed that he will not veto any of the amendments. The 2025 City services budget update is therefore deemed confirmed.   “This budget reflects our commitment to making meaningful long-term investments with a fully funded 10-year capital plan, while also maintaining fiscal responsibility” said Tara Baker, chief administrative officer. “This budget supports responsible growth, allows us to maintain service delivery and keeps affordability top of mind.”  “While… Continue reading City of Guelph confirms 2025 budget  

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TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the City of Guelph passed municipal-wide development charges By-laws No. (2024) – 20997 and (2024) – 20998 on November 13, 2024 under section 2 (1) of the Development Charges Act, 1997, S.O., 1997 c. 27, as amended; AND TAKE NOTICE that subsections 19 (1.2) and 19 (1.3) of the Act permit a municipality to amend a Development Charges bylaw, subject to conditions being met, and exempt such amendments from the process for bylaw amendments under subsection 19 (1) of the Act. The development charges imposed by the bylaws come into effect on November 20, 2024. The charges are as follows: Residential Rates Service/class of service Single and semi-detached dwelling Multiples Apartments – 2+ bedrooms Apartments – studio and 1… Continue reading Passing of municipal-wide Development Charges Bylaws

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Guelph, Ont. – On November 25, the City of Guelph will host the second virtual open house about developing Guelph’s Municipal Service and Financing Agreements (MSFA) policy. MSFAs, also known as front-ending agreements, allow municipalities to work with developers to build roads, water and wastewater services, and other essential infrastructure that supports housing and business development. Reaching Guelph’s housing targets requires a coordinated effort. The City’s budget and resources are limited. With these agreements, developers can fund and build the needed infrastructure for a project ahead of when the City’s fiscal capacity would allow. The City would then repay the funds as housing development occurs. How to get involved We want developers, homebuilders and members of the Guelph community to share your thoughts and feedback… Continue reading Share your input on the development of a Municipal Service and Financing Agreements policy

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Guelph, Ont., October 28, 2024 – Over the next two weeks, Mayor Guthrie will hold a series of town hall meetings to discuss the draft 2025 budget update. Community members are encouraged to attend to learn more. Town hall dates and locations November 4 – Wards 5 and 6 Salvation Army Citadel 1320 Gordon St, Guelph ON 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. November 5 – Open to all residents Virtual Town Hall 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. November 6 – Wards 3 and 4 West End Community Centre (Lions Lair room) 21 Imperial Rd S, Guelph ON 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. November 8 – Wards 1 and 2 Victoria Road Recreation Centre (Oak room) 151 Victoria Rd N, Guelph ON 6:30 p.m. – 8:00… Continue reading Mayor Guthrie invites public to attend town hall meetings to discuss 2025 budget

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Guelph, Ont., October 17, 2024 – Today, Mayor Cam Guthrie shared the draft 2025 budget update on Guelph’s website; the draft budget will be presented at a special Council meeting on October 30. The Mayor and City staff worked together to identify key investment areas and priorities to ensure the budget meets the community’s needs while also addressing the Mayoral direction to reduce the previously-adopted 2025 budget.   Background  The 2025 budget was previously adopted as part of the 2024-2027 Multi-Year Budget with a net tax levy increase of 9.8 per cent over 2024. The draft budget released today was updated to align with the Mayoral direction that was introduced earlier this year using the Strong Mayor powers. Under the Mayoral direction, staff were tasked… Continue reading Mayor Guthrie shares draft 2025 budget update

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Guelph, Ont., ​August 29, 2024​ – On September 13, the City of Guelph will host a virtual open house about developing Guelph’s Municipal Service and Financing Agreements (MSFA) policy.  MSFAs, also known as front-ending agreements, allow municipalities to work with developers to build infrastructure, like water and wastewater services, to support housing and business development.   Reaching Guelph’s housing targets requires a coordinated effort. The City’s budget and resources are limited. With these agreements, developers can move projects forward, ahead of when the City’s fiscal capacity would allow, by funding and building the needed infrastructure, which is then repaid by the City as housing development occurs.  We want to connect with developers, homebuilders and others in the sector, as well as members of the Guelph community.   Municipal… Continue reading Share your input on the development of a Municipal Service and Financing Agreements policy

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Read S&P Global Ratings’ report on Guelph’s 2024 credit rating  Guelph, Ont., August 21, 2024 – For the third straight year, S&P Global Ratings continues to affirm the City of Guelph’s financial credit rating as AAA with a stable outlook, the agency’s highest possible rating. S&P’s report however does caution that the road ahead shows signs of downward rating pressure.  “In an environment of higher inflation, growing construction costs and other factors that can be outside the city’s control, I’m very pleased that we have been given a reaffirmed AAA rating,” says Cam Guthrie, mayor, City of Guelph. “I’m thankful to City staff for their efforts and ensuring we leverage our debt capacity to tackle the housing crisis and infrastructure demands.” S&P Global Ratings is an… Continue reading City of Guelph’s AAA financial credit rating reaffirmed by S&P Global Ratings for third straight year

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Guelph’s new bylaws come into effect on March 2, 2024 Guelph, Ont., January 17, 2024 – Last night, at the Council Planning meeting, City Council approved the 2023 Development Charge Background Study with its addendum. Council also approved the new Development Charge bylaws. The new rates will come into effect on March 2, 2024. New elements of the Development Charge bylaws include changes to align with updates made by the province to the Development Charges Act through Bill 23, More Homes, Built Faster, as well as administrative updates, including: separate bylaws for each service to enable future updates to the rates for one, but not all services, if needed, without triggering the rate phase-in for all services adding the mandated discounts to development charges, removing… Continue reading Guelph City Council approves new Development Charge bylaws

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Investments focus on maintaining City Services while supporting existing and growth-enabling infrastructure as well as housing and homelessness Guelph, Ont., November 29, 2023 – On November 29, City Council amended and adopted Guelph’s 2024-2027 Multi-Year Budget with investments that focus on maintaining City services while supporting existing and growth-enabling infrastructure, as well as housing and homelessness. The budget will help advance the Council-approved Future Guelph strategic plan.   “Today, City Council reduced and adopted Guelph’s 2024-2027 Multi-Year Budget,” says Mayor Cam Guthrie. “Council was able to lower the City’s portion of the budget to 3.96 per cent. With the addition of outside boards and agencies, along with new impacts from provincial legislation, including downloading and underfunding housing, hospital and homelessness initiatives, the total impact is 8.52… Continue reading Council adopts Guelph’s 2024-2027 Multi-Year Budget

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Today, the City of Guelph released the 2024-2027 Multi-Year Budget. The budget was built based on direction from the Council-approved Future Guelph strategic plan. Continue reading City of Guelph releases first four-year budget

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Guelph, Ont., July 21, 2023 – On Wednesday, July 19, Guelph City Council participated in a two-part meeting about development charges. The first part of the meeting was a workshop that served as an orientation and education session. The second part was a special council meeting where the preliminary results of the ongoing Development Charges Background Study were presented to gather early feedback from Council. “Development charges are critical to funding the capital costs to accommodate growth,” says Shanna O’Dwyer, manager, Financial Strategy and Long-Term Planning, City of Guelph. “Before development can begin, water pipes, sewers, and roads must be built. Once people start living in new developments, we need to provide emergency services, waste collection, new parks and recreation spaces.” For decades in Ontario,… Continue reading Draft development charge rates presented at Council

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Guelph, ON, December 8, 2022: The Council-endorsed Strategic Advisory Group on downtown Guelph, a subcommittee of the Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness and Community Safety, has supported a request to Guelph City Council for an extension of daytime services for people in need at the Royal City Mission. There is a gap in daytime space available between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. and Council’s support of the request would make the space available for an additional four hours a day over the next year. This measure is intended to be a short-term solution and the group is now focused on identifying longer-term solutions to daytime service options for people in need. These services will include health and community services, as well as hygiene and storage options. Funding… Continue reading Strategic Advisory Group advocates for extension of daytime services at Royal City Mission; plans for what’s needed next

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