Your City Budget

The City of Brantford recognizes that municipal budget decisions have a profound impact on the daily lives of residents. From garbage collection, to public transit, to the safety of our neighbourhoods, budgets sit at the heart of residents’ quality of life and the community’s future development.

Let’s talk about the 2026 City Budget

2026 marks the third year of the City’s four-year multi-year budget and as the Estimates Committee prepares to review the 2026 budget, these engagement opportunities provide an important check-in with residents to ensure community priorities continue to guide the City’s financial decisions.

This year, we are enhancing the way residents can learn and participate. In addition to the Budget Priorities Survey, we are pleased to introduce OpenBook, a new online tool that helps residents better understand how the City budget works. By reviewing OpenBook first, you’ll be better equipped to provide informed and meaningful feedback regarding the City’s budget.

Ways to get involved

Learn more about the City budget by taking a few minutes to educate yourself on OpenBook where you can explore how tax dollars are spent and view key capital projects underway.
Complete the 2026 Budget Priorities Survey at LetsTalkBrantford.ca/CityBudget and share your input on important questions, including:

Which service areas should be prioritized (e.g., infrastructure, transit, housing, sustainability, culture, business development, supporting vulnerable residents)
How funding should be allocated (more, less, or no change) across key services
Whether you would support property tax increases for expanded services, or where reductions could be made if not
Open-ended opportunities to share your ideas and vision for Brantford’s future

Speak as a delegation to Estimates Committee

Residents are also welcome to provide input directly to City Council by registering as a delegation to speak at upcoming Estimates Committee meetings. This gives you the opportunity to present your views in person on the 2026 Budget:

City Services Budget: Delegations will be heard at the Estimates Committee on November 24, 2025.
Local Boards Budgets: Delegations will be heard at the Estimates Committee on December 1, 2025.

For more information on how to appear as a delegation and to register, please visit the City’s Delegation Process page.

Why Your Input Matters

By participating, you help City Council understand community priorities and balance investments across critical areas such as infrastructure, services, housing, climate action, culture, and economic development.

To ensure residents can see how their input contributes directly to decision making, after the survey closes, the City will publish a “What We Heard” report summarizing the feedback received and how it informed the Estimates Committee 2026 deliberations.

Final 2025 budget

Year 2 Budget Confirmation

2025 is year 2 of the 2024-2027 multi-year budget. As part of the multi-year budget process, the City is required to confirm the budget each year.

Staff from all local boards are responsible for the development of their respective budgets.

Staff presented the Year 2 Budget Confirmation report for City Services to Estimates Committee on December 2, 2024. The Year 2 Budget Confirmation report for Local Boards was presented to Estimates Committee on December 4, 2024.

Your say on the City’s 2025 budget

The public engagement campaign to inform the City’s 2025 budget directly engaged over 1,500 residents through surveys, focus groups, and consultations. Key findings included strong support for improving transit infrastructure, which was initially designed in the 1980s and requires substantial investment to address current needs. Additionally, a majority of participants emphasized the need to expand affordable housing options, improve public safety and balance development with the preservation of green spaces.