2020 Budget

2020 Budget Emphasizes the Importance of Roads and Winter Control

Following deliberations by the Finance and Administration Committee on December 3, 4, 5, 9 and 16, City Council has approved the 2020 Budget with increased investments in road maintenance and renewal, winter control, water and wastewater infrastructure, recreation facility maintenance and improvements, landfill and diversion sites, and information technology projects and solutions. 

Council approved a budget with a 4.8 per cent tax increase. For a typical home assessed at $230,000, this means approximately $12 more a month than 2019 property taxes. The 4.8 per cent increase includes a 3.3 per cent increase for operational needs and a 1.5 per cent capital levy. 

Where Do Your Taxes Go?

Our Tax Rates and Property Taxes

2020 Operating Budget

The 2020 Operating Budget is $619.7 million and includes costs to perform routine operations and deliver Council’s approved service levels. Approximately 47% of the operating budget is funded by property taxes.

  • $1.7 million increase in winter control including the replacement and maintenance of snow plow equipment
  • $900,000 increase in the summer roads maintenance including asphalt repair and stormwater management
  • Continued progress on asset management planning to ensure the reliability of current and future assets
  • Continued investment in the future of the Junction

2020 Budget Summary (PDF, 194 KB)

2020 Capital Budget

The $172 million capital budget ensures the best investment choices are made by ranking projects based on standard criteria and moving forward with the highest priorities. Of this $172 million, $43 million is funded by property taxes, $32.4 million is funded by water/wastewater user fees while the remainder comes from funding by other levels of government, reserve funds, third party recoveries and external debt financing. 
A special capital levy of 1.5% was approved to address infrastructure and asset renewal. A report will be presented to the Finance and Administration Committee recommending capital projects to be funded by this special levy.

Highlights of the 2020 capital budget include significant investments in roads, recreation and other infrastructure:

  • $86 million invested in roads and drains, including $811,000 toward the Hot In-Place Asphalt Recycling pilot project, and $39 million in water and wastewater infrastructure, making up more than 73 per cent of the capital budget 
  • $7.8 million to maintain and further improve GOVA services by accelerating the replacement of transit buses
  • $3.2 million investment in information technology projects and solutions to modernize customer transaction processes and improve customer service
  • $3.4 million investment in the replacement of Fire and Paramedic vehicles
  • $2.3 million in maintenance and improvements to leisure facilities including the Howard Armstrong Recreation Centre and Dowling Leisure Centre
  • $1.4 million in landfill and waste diversion sites in Sudbury and Hanmer

2020 Approved Capital Budget Summary (PDF, 70 KB)

Business Cases

The following business cases were funded from a variety of sources, including provincial funding/grants, reserves and the reallocation of dollars from deferred capital projects. 

  • $6.1 million to complete the City-wide conversion of street lights to LED
  • $257,000 for the Community Paramedicine Program, to be funded from the provincial cannabis funding and $104,000 from provincial grants
  • $226,000 to increase security at City facilities in the downtown core, to be funded from the provincial cannabis funding and a $50,000 contribution from the Downtown BIA
  • $227,000 toward the Valley East Twin Pad Arena, funded by reallocated capital dollars
  • $128,300 in continued funding for the Downtown Sudbury Community Improvement Plan
  • $106,400 increased funding for the Northern Ontario Railway Museum and Heritage Centre 
  • $91,800 toward additional lighting along the Junction Creek Waterway Park, funded by reallocated capital dollars and $90,300 from reserves.

2020 Approved Business Case Summary (PDF, 195 KB)

Water/Wastewater Budget

The 4.8% water/wastewater user rate increase is in line with the long-term financial plan for the service. Municipal water and wastewater services are funded by end users as mandated by the province. There are approximately 48,000 water/wastewater customers in the community.

The City is responsible for more than 1,800 kilometres of water and wastewater mains and the operations of the Biosolids Management Facility, 12 wastewater treatment facilities, two water treatment facilities, 23 water supply wells, 69 sewage lift stations, 12 pumping (booster) stations and nine water storage facilities. These assets are critical in the delivery of clean drinking water to residents, and the safe and environmentally responsible disposal of wastewater. 

Community Engagement

From November 6 to 29, the City offered a number of engagement opportunities to residents in the community. Residents were invited to complete the budget allocator, fill out a short survey and share ideas on spending priorities and finding efficiencies. There were over 1,100 visits to the project page, 164 surveys completed, 108 budget simulations completed, and 22 ideas generated by 13 contributors. Across all avenues, residents placed a strong focus in the areas of road maintenance, winter control, garbage and recycling, and emergency services. 

Findings from the survey along with more information on the 2020 Budget are posted below.


2020 Proposed Budget

The budget guides how the City will serve you over the next year. Property taxes pay for municipal services and the buildings, roads and systems that support the work we do. We work hard to provide the services you expect while keeping taxes manageable. 

Learn more about the budget process and how the City budget affects you.

Watch these short videos to learn more about the City budget.

2020 Budget Public Input

The formal public input process is now closed. Thank you for participating in the 2020 budget. Your feedback is an important part of the City’s budget development process.

The results of the submissions will be shared with City Council and with the public as part of the 2020 budget process, which is expected to wrap up in December 2019.

These reports present the results of the public input process:

1. Engagement Briefing Note (PDF,79 KB)

2. Detailed Engagement Report (PDF, 229 KB)

3. Additional Public Input Received (PDF, 1,146 KB)

 

2020 Proposed Budget

The 2020 proposed budget has been brought before Council. Download the slideshow from the presentation by Ed Archer, Chief Administrative Officer: CAO 2020 Budget Presentation (PDF, 19,034 KB) or watch the presentation below (starting at the 7:25 mark).

Download the entire 2020 Budget document (PDF, 9,358 KB) or check out our links below to read just the parts that interest you most.

Each week during the budget process, Council is provided with a list of questions asked and the appropriate answers. 

Community Profile

Icon CommunityGet the facts about Greater Sudbury, and read about how our values shape our decisions.

Community Profile (PDF, 582 KB)

Budget Overview

Icon calculator with a small dollar signThe Budget Overview describes the financial opportunities and challenges that affect the budget. 

Budget Overview (PDF, 464 KB)

Organizational Summary

icon with the four basic math symbolsIf you just want the numbers, this section is for you! This at-a-glance version of the budget shows the combined spending for services and projects.

Organizational Summary (PDF, 157 KB)

Services

Icon with a hand displaying a gear symbolGet to know your City services! Read about all 58 City services in detail, including 2019 accomplishments, and plans for the coming year.

Services (PDF, 3,760 KB)

Business Cases

Icon of a stack of papers showing a bar chart and informationBusiness cases are plans proposed by City staff for a fee, staffing or service-level change in their department. Find them all in this section. 

Business Cases (PDF, 1,113 KB)

Projects

Icon with a road and a bridgeThe plan for keeping City roads, buildings and systems in shape is also called the Capital Budget. Read about all the investments recommended for the coming year.

Projects (PDF, 1,440 KB)

Water/Wastewater

Icon with a tap and a water dropWhat could be more important to our health than the water we drink, cook and clean with? The financial details of the systems that deliver and treat our water and wastewater are described in this section.

Water/Wastewater (PDF, 629 KB)

Service Partners

Icon of a handshakeSudbury Airport Community Development Corporation, Conservation Sudbury, Public Health Sudbury & Districts and the Greater Sudbury Police Service all receive funding from the City. Read the plans to see how these groups deliver front-line services to our community.

View their budgets and overviews here:

Service Partners (PDF, 221 KB)

User Fees

Icon of an admission ticket showing a dollar signFrom facility rentals to parking fees, the user fees we pay help to fund important services City-wide. This section describes what the fees will be in 2020.

User Fees (PDF, 727 KB)

Appendices

Icon of an open book with the letter A on the left and lines on the rightThese Appendices explain the vocabulary used in Budget documents. 

Appendices (PDF, 147 KB)

 

Download the entire 2020 Budget document. (PDF, 9,358 KB)

Click here for the 2020 Budget Line Accounts (PDF, 917 KB)

Line account Q & A (PDF, 257 KB)

2020 Budget Direction

City Council directed staff to build a budget of no more than a 3.5 per cent property tax increase, with options to reduce this to a 3 per cent and a 2.5 per cent property tax increase. Staff are also recommending a 1.5 per cent special capital levy designed to address the infrastructure funding requirement, for a total property tax increase of 5 per cent.

Budget direction 2020

2020 Budget Schedule 

Activity Date

2020 Budget Update

September 17, 2019
Online Community Consultation - Online Submissions Fall 2019

Table Budget Document

  • 2020 Operating and Capital Budget Overview Presentation (CAO and CFO)
  • Presentation from Outside Boards (tentative)

November 6, 2019

Budget Meeting

  • Review and Approve Operating and Capital Budgets and Water/Wastewater Rates
  • Three consecutive meetings have been scheduled

December 3, 4, 5, 2019

City Council Approval of 2020 Operating and Capital Budget

December 10, 2019

Approval of 2020 Property Tax Policy May 2020