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8 Friday, November 8, 2024 brooklintowncrier.com Whitby's draft 2025 Budget is now available on ConnectWhitby.ca/Budget. This draft budget incorporates assumptions, budget pressures, and projections prepared by Town staff and reflects a 5.7 per cent budget increase for 2025 to maintain essential service delivery and plan for growth. A 5.7 per cent budget increase equates to a 2 per cent increase to the total property tax bill or an increase of approximately 34 cents* per day, per household for the delivery of important services residents rely on every day, like waste collection, snow clearing, and parks maintenance. On November 18, Mayor Roy will present the Town of Whitby's 2025 to 2027 budget, the 'Strong Mayor Budget', which may include adjustments to the Draft Budget. This is also the Town's first multi-year budget and includes staff projections for 2026 and 2027. As an important part of the budget process, we invite you to take part in the following upcoming opportunities to provide feedback on the proposed budget: Virtual 2025 Budget Forum When: open now through November 17, 2024 Where: online at ConnectWhitby.ca/Budget What: Residents can go online and share their thoughts and feedback on the Draft Budget at any time that is convenient for them Budget Public Meeting When: Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 7 p.m. Where: Attend the meeting in-person at Whitby Council Chambers or tune in online at whitby.ca/CouncilCalendar What: Residents will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the Strong Mayor Budget prior to Council consideration and possible approval on Thursday, November 28. Residents interested in speaking at the Budget Public Meeting virtually or in-person are required to register with the Town Clerk by 8 a.m. on the day of the meeting (Tuesday, November 19). Delegation Forms are available online at whitby.ca/delegation. Special Council Meeting (possible approval of the 2025 Multi-Year Budget) When: Thursday, November 28, 2024, 7 p.m. Where: Attend the meeting in-person at Whitby Council Chambers or tune in online at whitby.ca/CouncilCalendar. What: At this meeting, Council can propose amendments to the Strong Mayor Budget. If there are no amendments, the 2025 Multi-Year Budget may be approved. Residents interested in speaking at the Special Council Meeting virtually or in-person are required to register with the Town Clerk by 8 a.m. on the day of the meeting (Thursday, November 28). Delegation Forms are available online at whitby.ca/delegation. QUICK FACTS This year, the Town will move to a multi-year Budget. This will better position the municipality to implement the actions of the Whitby Community Strategic Plan (CSP) and plan investments to meet resident needs as Whitby grows. To date, more than 95 per cent of the CSP action items are either in progress or complete, leveraging tax dollars to deliver on what residents have shared matters most to them. The 2025 Budget will be a Strong Mayor's budget. Heard about this and interested in what it means? Read Mayor Roy's column at connectwhitby.ca/budget to learn more. You can livestream the meetings online or watch a recording of the meetings at a time that's convenient for you through archived video. Whitby Draft 2025 Multi-Year Budget Available For Feedback