The budget is our annual financial plan and is the primary basis of financial decision making. The budget process allows council to prioritize the programs and services we deliver and sets direction for the work to be completed over the upcoming year.
On this page:
Average residential impact
For the average household in Kitchener, the approved rate increases and average cost increase for a typical Kitchener home are:
- property taxes: 1.99% or $23 annually
- stormwater utility: 6% or $12 annually
- sanitary sewer utility: 1.6% or $8 annually
- water utility: 2.2% or $26 annually
- gas utility: 10.4% or $74 annually
These yearly cost estimates are based on a medium-single detached home with an assessed value of $326,000, our current average.
Budget overview
Our 2022 budget is about Moving Forward on our shared community priorities.
This budget builds on investments made in each of the five goals outlined in our 2019-2022 Strategic Plan:
- Great Customer Service
- People Friendly Transportation
- Environmental Leadership
- Caring Community
- Vibrant Economy
These are the priorities that Kitchener residents told us matter to them, and the 2022 budget continues to move strategic plan actions forward.
Examples of capital projects that align with our strategic goals include:
- $1.6 million for customer service enhancements
- $550k over 3 years for 40 km speed limit
- $5.5 million over 10 years for urban forest implementation
- $350k for Indigenous placemaking
- $3.6 million for downtown infrastructure improvements
Moving forward
As we begin to emerge from the pandemic, it’s important to reflect back on what we have accomplished together as a city over the past few years. We’re moving forward with a focus on economic recovery, responding to community needs, supporting a growing city and maintaining our core services and infrastructure that you and your family rely on.
The budget supports our community’s economic recovery through the Make It Kitchener 2.0 Economic Development Strategy that earmarked $5 million to support economic recovery. We’re also supporting the needs of a growing city. The budget includes funding for more firefighters, park spaces, trails and a new community centre in the growing south end of Kitchener. In this year’s budget, we’re creating a central service counter at City Hall to better meet the needs of residents.
This budget responds to community needs. We’re investing in our equity, anti-racism and Indigenous initiatives team to better reflect our community’s diversity and address needs. We are continuing to place priority on implementing the Housing For All Strategy. Additionally, we’re resuming our long-term plan for sustainably funding the needs of Kitchener’s roads, bridges and transportation infrastructure.