Council Readopts Multi-Year Budget, Reduces Increase from 7.3 to 4.8 Per Cent

Following deliberations by the Finance and Administration Committee, City Council readopted the municipal budget for 2025. The approved budget results in a 4.8 per cent tax levy change in 2025, which includes an increase of 3.3 per cent to maintain services and a special 1.5 per cent special capital levy.

For a homeowner with a home assessed at $350,000 the approved budget means a monthly change of approximately $22.

The 4.8 per cent property tax increase includes the following:

• 1.6 per cent increase for municipal services
• 1.4 per cent increase for Greater Sudbury Police Service
• 0.3 per cent increase for other service partners
• 1.5 per cent special capital levy

Multi-Year Budget: Annual Update Process

The 2024-2025 budget is the City’s first multi-year budget. Rather than approving a budget annually, Council approves a two-year operating budget and a four-year capital budget, with subsequent year(s) being subject to readoption.

The budget approved in December 2023 resulted in a net tax levy increase of 5.9 per cent for 2024 and 7.3 per cent for 2025. In spring 2024, Council directed staff to present potential service and budget adjustments that would reduce the expected 2025 increase from 7.3 per cent to no more than 4.9 per cent over 2024.

Changes to the 2025 budget are brought forward to provide flexibility to address special events or circumstances that require funding and resource adjustments. Each budget amendment was classified into one of three categories:

• New or changed legislation or regulation with a financial impact to the municipality.
• New Council direction that has transpired since the approval of the multi-year budget in December 2023.
• A corporate or service area budget adjustment as a result of a change in economic conditions.

The municipal budget includes significant investments in numerous priority areas, including road work, environmental sustainability, major building repairs, community services and water and wastewater projects.

Operating Budget

The approved operating budget is $800.2 million for 2025. The operating budget includes the costs to support routine municipal operations, daily services and the operations of service partners like Greater Sudbury Police Service and Public Health Sudbury and District. Approximately 47 per cent of the operating budget is funded by property taxes; the remainder comes from provincial and federal government funding, grants and subsidies, user fees and other revenues.

Additional service enhancements through approved business cases include:

• Hiring additional Municipal Law Enforcement Officers onboard transit vehicles to support passenger and staff safety.
• Implementing a mattress diversion program, resulting in a longer lifespan of existing landfill assets and contributing to environmental sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Implementing 2025 sustainable waste strategies, including investing in landfill compaction equipment to extend landfill asset life, and studies that align with the recommendations of the Sustainable Waste Strategy.
• Implementing an annual grant for the Onaping Falls recreation committee to support delivering recreation programming in the communities of Dowling, Levack and Onaping.

Capital Budget

The 2025-2027 capital budget amounts to $652.3 million (excluding water and wastewater capital projects). This record investment addresses assets with the highest capital requirements and will make a significant impact on shrinking the asset renewal need over time. The 1.5 per cent capital infrastructure levy will support the renewal of local and arterial roads that would otherwise be unfunded.

Highlights include:

• $208.2 million for road construction to repair and maintain our transportation network.
• $11.7 million for community centre buildings and facility improvements.
• $7.7 million for library building refurbishments.
• $70.4 million for Fire and Paramedic Services including ambulances, medical equipment, emergency response vehicles, construction of a new station and renovations to various community safety stations.
• $46.5 million for investment in transit projects.
• $8.6 million for Greater Sudbury Housing Corporation building improvements.
• Additional $4.9 million for TDS courtyard upgrades, with linkage to the Cultural Hub at Tom Davies Square.

Water/Wastewater Budget

The 4.8 per cent water/wastewater user rate increase is in line with the Long-term Financial Plan.

Municipal water and wastewater services are fully funded by water/wastewater customers, as mandated by the Province, with no impact on property taxes. There are approximately 48,000 water/wastewater customers in the community.

This includes $59.4 million operating budget for 2025 and $210.9 million capital budget for 2025-2027 and includes the following significant capital investments:

• Additional $56.2 million investment towards overall $70 million investment in Walden – Lively Wastewater Treatment Facilities
• $3.1 million for investment to replace water and sewer pipes on Elgin Street
• $68.1 million investment in watermains and sanitary sewers.
• $73.9 million investment in water and wastewater treatment plants and other facilities.

This increase funds the asset renewal, repairs and maintenance needed to keep the system sustainable and safe. The cost increase for 2025 is approximately $6.36 per month for the average homeowner, or approximately $76.47 per year.

Service Partners

City Council approved the 2025 municipal share of the City’s service partner budgets which include gross expenditure amounts of:

• $90.0 million for the Greater Sudbury Police Service.
• $10.7 million for the Greater Sudbury Public Library.
• $1.4 million for Conservation Sudbury.
• $9.6 million for Public Health Sudbury & Districts.

Quotes

"I am pleased that Council has readopted this multi-year budget, which strikes a thoughtful balance between addressing our community’s immediate needs and making strategic, long-term investments to build a vibrant and healthy city for years to come. Residents will see their tax dollars hard at work across Greater Sudbury—from supporting our most vulnerable residents to improving infrastructure and advancing key economic development priorities. This outcome reflects the dedication of Council and staff to achieving the best for our community while keeping property tax increases as low as possible."

• Paul Lefebvre, Mayor, City of Greater Sudbury

“The readoption of our first multi-year budget represents responsible investment in Council’s priorities while being mindful of affordability and the realities of today’s economic challenges. It balances the maintenance of municipal service levels while investing in our future. I thank staff for their thoughtful cost-saving adjustments for consideration, and I thank my Council colleagues for their careful deliberation in approving a budget that prioritizes the needs of our community."

• Deb McIntosh, Ward 9 Councillor and Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee

“This multi-year budget supports Council’s strategic priorities with a shared emphasis on residents’ daily needs and our community’s long-term priorities. It prioritizes safety and well-being through continued investment in social services and infrastructure. I thank Council for their leadership, and I thank all staff, with a special thanks to the team in Finance Services, for ensuring Council had the information they needed to make informed decisions.” 

• Kevin Fowke, Interim Chief Administrative Officer, City of Greater Sudbury

For more information about the 2024-2025 budget, visit www.greatersudbury.ca/budget.