2020 Municipal Budget - Join The Conversation

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Consultation has concluded

The Town of Collingwood has drafted a proposed 2020 Operating & Capital Budget and is seeking the Community’s input.

Through the draft 2020 Budget, the Town strives to balance the needs of current residents and the challenges of our community’s unprecedented growth and mounting investment needs, with finding opportunities for service efficiency, business attraction, and enhancements to our waterfront and public spaces.

View the 2020 Draft Budget

What is a budget?
It is the most important document that any government adopts. It is a plan that sets out anticipated spending for the year and where the money will come from. It determines the services the municipality will provide and defines any improvements or expenses related to buildings or resources that will be made that year. A budget is the blueprint that outlines how municipal funds are collected and allocated. The overall budget can be separated into two main components – the Operating Budget and the Capital Budget.

What is an Operating Budget?
The operating budget is the plan for the day-to-day operations of the Town including salaries, legal and insurance costs, and winter control. These expenses are required annually to run the municipality. Every Town program and service is funded through the operating budget, which is designed to ensure dependable delivery of a broad array of programs and services that residents rely on every day. Your municipal government is responsible for providing fire and police services, roads, clean water, parks, arenas, library services, and much more. Many of these services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These services and programs are largely funded by tax dollars and user fees which include charges for recreation programs, water, and wastewater services.

What is a Capital Budget?
The capital budget is the annual plan for the purchase and financing of the Town’s capital assets. Capital assets are projects and expenses where the benefits can be seen over the course of many years, such as roads, bridges, land, buildings, machinery, and equipment. Some examples of capital projects include intersection improvements at Third Street & High Street, the Stewart Road Reservoir, The Black Ash Pumping Station upgrade, and the Sunset Point Park Playground project. The bulk of the capital spending goes to maintaining and fixing existing infrastructure, and is funded through dedicated accounts (similar to savings accounts) that have been built up through taxation and grants.

Building new infrastructure that is needed for keeping up with the growth of the community is funded through charges on the new developments being built.

Balancing the Budget
Each year municipalities are faced with the challenge of balancing the budget, as required by provincial legislation. A municipality can take on debt to pay for large capital acquisitions, however it must ensure that there is enough money to fund day-to-day operations. In order to balance the budget, a careful analysis must be done regarding the level of services required to meet the expectations of the community and the realistic taxation and user fee levels.

The Town of Collingwood has drafted a proposed 2020 Operating & Capital Budget and is seeking the Community’s input.

Through the draft 2020 Budget, the Town strives to balance the needs of current residents and the challenges of our community’s unprecedented growth and mounting investment needs, with finding opportunities for service efficiency, business attraction, and enhancements to our waterfront and public spaces.

View the 2020 Draft Budget

What is a budget?
It is the most important document that any government adopts. It is a plan that sets out anticipated spending for the year and where the money will come from. It determines the services the municipality will provide and defines any improvements or expenses related to buildings or resources that will be made that year. A budget is the blueprint that outlines how municipal funds are collected and allocated. The overall budget can be separated into two main components – the Operating Budget and the Capital Budget.

What is an Operating Budget?
The operating budget is the plan for the day-to-day operations of the Town including salaries, legal and insurance costs, and winter control. These expenses are required annually to run the municipality. Every Town program and service is funded through the operating budget, which is designed to ensure dependable delivery of a broad array of programs and services that residents rely on every day. Your municipal government is responsible for providing fire and police services, roads, clean water, parks, arenas, library services, and much more. Many of these services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These services and programs are largely funded by tax dollars and user fees which include charges for recreation programs, water, and wastewater services.

What is a Capital Budget?
The capital budget is the annual plan for the purchase and financing of the Town’s capital assets. Capital assets are projects and expenses where the benefits can be seen over the course of many years, such as roads, bridges, land, buildings, machinery, and equipment. Some examples of capital projects include intersection improvements at Third Street & High Street, the Stewart Road Reservoir, The Black Ash Pumping Station upgrade, and the Sunset Point Park Playground project. The bulk of the capital spending goes to maintaining and fixing existing infrastructure, and is funded through dedicated accounts (similar to savings accounts) that have been built up through taxation and grants.

Building new infrastructure that is needed for keeping up with the growth of the community is funded through charges on the new developments being built.

Balancing the Budget
Each year municipalities are faced with the challenge of balancing the budget, as required by provincial legislation. A municipality can take on debt to pay for large capital acquisitions, however it must ensure that there is enough money to fund day-to-day operations. In order to balance the budget, a careful analysis must be done regarding the level of services required to meet the expectations of the community and the realistic taxation and user fee levels.

Consultation has concluded

  • Town of Collingwood approves 2020 Capital & Operating Budget

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    Town commits significant funding to infrastructure upgrades & customer service enhancements

    At the Tuesday, December 17 Special Council meeting, Town of Collingwood Council approved the 2020 Operating & Capital budgets. Council and Staff thank all residents and stakeholders who participated in public meetings and online engagement, providing valuable feedback through the budget review process.

    Mayor Brian Saunderson commented, “With this budget, the Town strives to balance the needs of current residents and the challenges of our community’s unprecedented growth and mounting investment needs, with finding opportunities for service efficiency, business attraction, and enhancements to our waterfront and public spaces. The Town continues to commit significant funding to infrastructure upgrades and customer service enhancements. I would like to thank our staff for their hard work on this budget and for moving us forward on a fiscally responsible path.”

    The 2020 operating budget is comprised of $59.7 million in operating expenses, which accounts for the costs required to provide services (such as transit, recreation, and roads), as well as staffing and administrative costs.

    Total capital expenditures approved for 2020 come in at $32.8 million. Capital expenditures relate to projects and expenses where the benefits can be seen over many years, including facilities, vehicles, and parks. New infrastructure in Roads, Public Transit, and Parks and Recreation are significant capital expenditures for 2020.

    For the average residential property assessment of $324,385, the municipal portion of taxes will increase 1.09% and the Capital Levy will increase 0.04% for a combined total of 1.13% or approximately $25.

    Marjory Leonard, Treasurer for the Town of Collingwood, said, “Town Staff work to create a fiscally responsible budget that reflects Council’s strategic direction while keeping the tax burden to a minimum.”

  • “Coffee with Council” Open House offers Engagement Opportunity

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    Discover and discuss the major municipal initiatives underway in Collingwood

    On Tuesday, December 10, 2019, The Town of Collingwood will be hosting a “Coffee with Council” Open House event to have meaningful two-way discussions on some of the major initiatives that are underway in the municipality. The public is invited to join Council and Staff in informal conversation and information gathering from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Town Hall Council Chambers.

    This Open House will feature booths and information on the following major municipal initiatives:

    • proposed 2020 Operating & Capital Budget
    • Strategic Plan Update
    • proposed Lobbyist Registry Program
    • Sunset Point Park Playground Designs
    • Collingwood Grain Terminals Process Options
    • Asset Sale Proceeds Update
    • Economic Development Action Plan Survey


    Our accessible community empowers all to participate in discussions, engage in activities, obtain information, and provide feedback and opinion. Decisions made by Council will consider local beliefs and desires for the future of the Town’s finances, infrastructure, environment, and community services.

    This Open House gives the public an opportunity to discuss the proposed 2020 Budget. The budget will first be presented at Strategic Initiatives Standing Committee Meetings on Thursday, December 5 and Monday, December 9. There will also be an opportunity for Public Commenting at these meetings after the budget overview presentations. The “Coffee with Council” Open House on Tuesday, December 10 allows the public to discuss the needs, challenges, and opportunities within our community.

    “The Town of Collingwood is committed to working hard to be a progressive organization, supporting a healthy, strong, and vibrant community, and preparing for future growth, all while improving good governance, openness, accessibility, accountability, and transparency,” says Mayor Brian Saunderson, “Please join Council for coffee and conversations on our current major municipal initiatives on Tuesday, December 10.”

  • Town Announces Upcoming Engagement Opportunities for Draft 2020 Budget

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    Strategic Initiative Meetings to feature Budget Overviews and opportunity for Public Commenting

    The Town of Collingwood is drafting a proposed 2020 Operating & Capital Budget and will be seeking the Community’s input in the upcoming weeks.

    Through the draft 2020 Budget, the Town strives to balance the needs of current residents and the challenges of our community’s unprecedented growth and mounting investment needs, with finding opportunities for service efficiency, business attraction, and enhancements to our waterfront and public spaces.

    The public is asked to stay tuned for the upcoming release of the proposed Draft 2020 Budget. Announcements about the proposed budget will be made on www.collingwood.ca. the Town Twitter and Facebook pages, and right here on Engage Collingwood.

    The public is also invited to join in on the following 2020 Budget engagement opportunities:

    Thursday, December 5 - Strategic Initiatives Standing Committee Meeting

    • Starting at 5:00 PM in the Council Chambers
    • Opportunity for Public Commenting after budget overview presentations

    Monday, December 9 – Strategic Initiatives Standing Committee Meeting

    • Starting at 1:00 PM in the Council Chambers
    • Opportunity for Public Commenting after budget overview presentations

    Tuesday, December 10 – “Coffee with Council” Open House

    • Gather information and discuss the proposed budget with Council & Staff

    Monday, December 16 - Strategic Initiatives Standing Committee Meeting

    • Following the Council Meeting in the Council Chambers

    Tuesday, December 17 – Special Council Meeting

    • Starting at 5:00 PM in the Council Chambers
    • Ratify the recommendations of December 16 SIC Meeting
    • Potentially approve the 2020 Municipal Budget Estimates By-law