Multi-Year Budget

Earlier in 2023, City Council approved the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. This plan identifies the shared vision, mission and priorities that will guide the City's next five years. 

Throughout the spring and summer of 2023, the City's Service Areas have been developing their budgets. This involves building their existing budgets outward into the 2024-2027 period (the period covered under the Multi-Year Budget) and  producing business cases that reflect proposed changes to current services to align with the priorities identified in the Strategic Plan.

The next step is for these Service Area draft budgets to be released by Civic Administration at a Budget Committee meeting later this year.  

After the budgets are released, there is time allowed for review, and then a Public Participation Meeting (PPM) is held at the Budget Committee meeting to hear delegations from the public related to the budget. During this time, residents are also able to connect with their Ward Councillors to offer feedback. The Budget Committee takes this feedback into consideration as they then begin deliberations. 

Deliberation meetings are held as needed until the Budget Committee completes its review of all items in the budgets.  When this review is complete, a second PPM is held - another opportunity for residents to provide feedback before the budgets are then brought forward to a City Council meeting, at which point they are approved and brought into effect.

2024 to 2027 Budget Timetable

December 12, 2023 - 4 p.m. at Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee -  Draft Budget Release by Civic Administration of the Property Tax, Water, and Wastewater & Treatment Budgets

January 29, 2024 - 4 p.m. at Budget Committee - Budget Public Participation Meeting #1

February 1, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. at Budget Committee - Budget Deliberations

February 2, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. at Budget Committee - Budget Deliberations (as needed)

February 8, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. at Budget Committee - Budget Deliberations (as needed)

February 9, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. at Budget Committee - Budget Deliberations (as needed)

February 15, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. at Budget Committee - Budget Deliberations (as needed)

February 16, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. at Budget Committee - Budget Deliberations (as needed)

February 22, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. at Budget Committee - Budget Deliberations (as needed)

February 23, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. at Budget Committee - Budget Deliberations (as needed)

February 27, 2024 - 4:00 p.m. at Budget Committee - Budget Public Participation Meeting #2

March 5, 2024 - 1:00 p.m. at Council - Property Tax, Water, Wastewater & Treatment Budgets Approval

Get Involved

The Budget team will be hosting Information Sessions in November and pop-up information booths around London in January. Visit our Get Involved website for dates/times and more information.

If your group or organization would like to invite the Budget Team to host an information session at your upcoming meeting, please reach out to the London Budget team at budget@london.ca.

If you have comments or questions about the Multi-Year Budget process, please visit the City's Get Involved site for more information.

The Municipal Act, 2001 authorizes a municipality to prepare and adopt a budget covering a period of two to five years.  The City of London has chosen to utilize a four year period. 

Rather than approving a budget annually, Council approves budgets for the next four years, subject to annual re-adoption, to establish funding in support of achieving Council’s Strategic Plan. 

The last year of the multi-year budget is subject to reconfirmation by the new term of Council, also ensuring any changes are linked to the Strategic Plan.

A Multi-Year Budget allows:

• Better accountability between funding plans and costs of services to Londoners.
• Better aligns longer-term goals and objectives with longer-term funding plans.
• Provides greater certainty to residents about the future direction of their taxes.
• More efficient use of time and resources as the organization is not constantly preparing budgets.

Yes, an important element of the Multi-Year Budget is the Annual Budget Update process. It is required under the Municipal Act, 2001. Council must readopt the budget each year. Any changes that are required to make the budget compliant with the provisions of the Municipal Act, 2001, will be completed at this time. Annual updates will also provide Council the opportunity to adjust the budget to provide flexibility for events or circumstances that require funding and resource adjustments.

The operating budget outlines the City's spending plan to implement Council's goals and priorities. It is based upon service area day-to-day operations of programs and services, such as the cost of water supply and wastewater collection and treatment, transit, garbage collection and disposal, recycling, parks, arenas, recreation programs, road maintenance, libraries, policing and public health services. Examples of operating expenses include, salaries and wages, insurance, supplies, fuel and utilities. Contributions to capital reserve funds and debt servicing payments are also made from the operating budget.

The capital budget outlines the City's capital expenditure plan and related funding for assets and related programs, such as water and sewer infrastructure, roads, arenas and parks, which will provide or support services to residents over many years.  This budget pays for all new investments or rehabilitation of assets currently under the City’s control.  Examples of capital expenses include roads, bridges, parks, trails, community centres, sewers and water mains. Within the capital budget and plan, there are three classifications for capital projects: life cycle renewal, growth and service improvement.