City introduces new OpenBook tool to help residents better understand and shape the 2026 budget

BRANTFORD, ON: Today the City of Brantford is pleased to launch the 2026 City Budget engagement campaign, inviting residents to share their priorities and feedback ahead of Estimates Committee deliberations for the upcoming budget year. As the City enters the third year of its multi-year budgeting process, Council and staff are committed to ensuring that community perspectives continue to guide how public funds are allocated. Through this year’s engagement campaign, residents are encouraged to learn more about how their tax dollars are invested and provide meaningful input to help balance community needs with fiscal responsibility.

A key feature of this year’s campaign is OpenBook, a new online tool that provides a closer look at the City’s financial data. Available at brantford.openbook.questica.com, the tool allows residents to explore departmental budgets, view capital project investments, and better understand how City services are funded. This resource complements the information available on the City’s engagement portal, letstalkbrantford.ca/citybudget, where residents can find background information and participate directly in the 2026 budget conversation.

Residents are invited to complete the 2026 Budget Priorities Survey, which asks for feedback on funding levels for a range of municipal services and initiatives, including infrastructure, transit, housing, climate action, culture, and supports for vulnerable populations. The survey also gives residents the opportunity to express their views on potential tax increases or identify areas where spending could be reduced. The online survey takes approximately five to ten minutes to complete and will remain open until November 6, 2025. 

In addition to the online survey, members of the public can share their perspectives in person by registering as a delegation at upcoming Estimates Committee meetings. The City Services Budget will be reviewed on November 24, 2025, followed by the Local Boards Budgets on December 1, 2025. Information about how to register to speak to the Committee is available at brantford.ca/delegation.

“Under the Strong Mayor’s Act, I have the responsibility to deliver the City’s annual budget,” said Mayor Kevin Davis. “That responsibility comes with an obligation to ensure residents have meaningful opportunities to share their views before budget decisions are finalized. The City’s new OpenBook platform supports that goal by helping residents better understand where their tax dollars go and how their input can help shape future budget decisions.”  

The City encourages all residents to visit letstalkbrantford.ca/citybudget to explore the OpenBook tool, learn more about how municipal budgets work, and share their perspectives on community priorities. Findings from the 2026 Budget Priorities engagement campaign will be presented to the Estimates Committee at its first 2026 budget deliberation meeting on November 24, 2025.

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Media Contact: 

Maria Visocchi Director, Communications, Community Engagement and Customer Service
City of Brantford | Office: 519.759.4150 Ext. 5754 | mvisocchi@brantford.ca 

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