The City of St. Catharines delivers a wide range of programs and services to residents and visitors to support a high quality of life and align with our Strategic Plan. Our financial planning and budgeting process reflects our commitment to financial stability and transparency.
Our Budget Standing Committee addresses high-level strategic budget and policy decisions on behalf of City Council. The committee provides financial guidance and oversight to improve upon the City's budget process and financial planning.
2024 to 2026 Multi-Year Budgets
Below are key dates and information regarding the City's 2024 to 2026 Multi-Year Operating, Capital and Water / Wastewater Budgets. Questions and comments regarding the budgets can be sent to budget@stcatharines.ca. Public engagement opportunities regarding the budget are also listed below.
The staff proposed operating, capital and water / wastewater 2024 to 2026 multi-year budgets can be viewed using these links:
- View the Staff Proposed 2024 to 2026 Multi-Year Operating Budget
- View the Staff Proposed 2024 to 2026 Multi-Year Capital Budget
- View the Staff Proposed 2024 to 2026 Multi-Year Water and Wastewater Budget
Strong Mayor Powers and Implications on the Budget Process
- On June 16, 2023, the Province expanded Strong Mayor Powers to include the City of St. Catharines.
- The legislation requires that the Mayor shall, on or before February 1 of each year, propose and adopt a budget. Under the legislation, the Mayor must solely exercise the powers and duties with respect to the budget.
- Within 30 days after receiving the proposed budget from the Mayor, Council may pass a resolution amending the proposed budget.
- The Mayor may veto any amendments approved by Council for up to 10 days after Council passes budget amendments.
- Within 15 days after the time period expires for the Mayor to veto amendments, Council may override the Mayor’s veto if two-thirds of the members of Council vote to override the veto.
Important - In all cases, there will not be vote from Council to approve the budget as presented or to approve the budget as amended.
More information on Strong Mayor Powers is available in Report LCS/FMS-124-2023, which was provided to City Council on September 11, 2023.
Key Dates and Information
- November 22, 2023 - Council (Budget) Meeting. Staff to present the proposed 2024 to 2026 Multi-Year Operating, Capital and Water / Wastewater Budgets.
- November 28, 2023 - Public engagement initiatives regarding the budgets begin. Please see the table below for full details.
- January 3, 2024 - Agenda published for the January 10, 2024 Council (Budget) Meeting. The publishing of the agenda begins the 30-day window in which Council may pass resolutions to amend the budgets.
- January 10, 2024 - Council (Budget) Meeting. Mayor Siscoe presents his 2024 to 2026 Multi-Year Operating, Capital and Water / Wastewater Budgets to Council.
- January 22, 2024 - Council (Budget) Meeting. If Councillors submit amendments to the budgets, those amendments will be considered at this meeting.
- January 31, 2024 - Council (Budget) Meeting. If Councillors submit amendments to the budgets, those amendments will be considered at this meeting.
- February 1, 2024 - Council (Budget) Meeting - if necessary. This date is being held in case another date is required for discussion of budget amendments submitted by Councillors.
- February 1, 2024 - If no amendments are approved, the budgets are deemed adopted as presented on February 1, 2024.
- February 2 to 11, 2024 - Period for the Mayor to veto amendments. If the Mayor does not exercise the veto power, the amended budget is deemed adopted on February 11, 2024.
- February 12 to 26, 2024 - Period for Councillors to vote to override Mayoral vetoes (applies only if the Mayor vetoes an amendment).
- February 26, 2024 - Council Meeting. If Councillors wish to vote to override any Mayoral vetoes, the matter will be considered at this meeting. If Council does not approve an override, the budget is deemed adopted on February 26, 2024.
Participating at Council Meetings
Council Meetings are open to the public. Visit our Council webpage for information on presenting to Council and submitting correspondence regarding the budget. Visit our Agendas webpage to view the agendas for each meeting. Please note, the agendas for Council (Budget) meetings are published five days in advance of each meeting.
Public Engagement Opportunities
The public can give feedback on the 2024 to 2026 Multi-Year Budgets at the following events.
- November 28 - Budget Open House
Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre - 6 to 7 p.m. - November 29 - Telephone Town Hall - 7 to 8 p.m.
Residents will be contacted by phone to participate. To guarantee participation, email budget@stcatharines.ca - November 30 - Budget Open House
St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre - 6 to 7 p.m. - December 5 - Budget Kiosk
Pen Centre - Noon to 7 p.m. - December 7 - Budget Kiosk
Market Square - 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. - December 11 - Budget Kiosk
St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre - 6 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. - December 13 - Budget Kiosk
Fairview Mall - Noon to 7 p.m. - December 15 - Budget Kiosk
St. Catharines Public Library - Downtown Branch - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Previous Budgets and financial statements
View the City's previous budgets and financial statements, including:
- Capital budgets and four-year forecasts
- Operating budgets
- Water and wastewater budgets
- Water and wastewater financial plans
Rates and fees
View our rates and fees for services such as facility rentals, recreation programs, memberships, parking, approvals and permits, zoning, licences, inspections and more.
Asset management
Learn more about our asset management planning, which guides our decisions on building, operating, maintaining, renewing, replacing and disposing of infrastructure assets.