Budget and Financial

The Regional Municipality of Durham's business plans and budgets are a key component of the Region's business cycle.

The business planning process includes:

• Strategic planning
• Risk assessment
• Multi-year economic and financial forecasting
• Property tax and user rate guidelines
• Asset management planning
• Long-term servicing and financing studies
• Detailed business plans and budgets
• Performance measurement

Our business plans and annual budgets outline the operating and capital financing needed to deliver essential services to our residents. The budgets align with the Durham Region Strategic Plan. They also provide funding to:

• Maintain existing levels of service.
• Address critical needs.
• Address legislative and regulatory changes.
• Outline strategic programs enhancements in priority areas.

The Region prepares two budgets. The first is for services funded by property taxes, which presents the operating and capital funding requirements for the following Regional services:

• Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS)
• Durham Region Transit (DRT)
• Regional roads and bridges
• Solid waste management
• Social services:
• Long-term care and services for seniors
• Social housing
• Social assistance
• Children's services
• Family services
• Public health
• Paramedic services
• Planning and economic development
• Emergency management
• 9-1-1 services

The second is for the user rates that provide operating and capital funding requirements for the municipal water and sewer services. Homeowners receive a water and sewer bill based on how much they use. Water and sewer services are not funded by property taxes.

Proposed 2019 Regional business plans and budgets

The 2019 proposed water and sewer user rate Regional business plans and budgets will be presented to the Finance and Administration Committee on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 and Regional Council on Wednesday, January 30, 2019. The following is a link to the proposed business plans and budgets.

2019 Proposed water and sewer user rate Regional Business Plans and Budgets

The 2019 proposed property tax supported Regional business plans and budgets will be reviewed by Regional Council in March 2019. The Finance & Administration Committee and Durham Regional Council will be considering the proposed property tax guidelines for the 2019 Regional Business Plans and Budgets at their meetings on Tuesday, January 15 and Wednesday, January 30, 2019 respectively.

Approved property tax supported Regional business plans and budgets

Approved water and sewer user rate Regional business plans and budgets