Budget Committee of the Whole

That the agenda be adopted as distributed by the Clerk.

a) That Staff Report SRCFS.23.007 regarding the 2023 Operating Budget be received; b) That the 2023 City Operating Budget: 1. With a recommended budget increase of $4,674,300 and a total tax levy of $126,291,200 (excluding supplementary taxes),summarized in Appendix “A” to staff report SRCFS.23.007, be approved; 2. That the 2023 Senior Tax Assistance Grant increase to $420, be approved; 3. That the draft By-law 23-23, attached as Appendix “D” to staff report SRCFS.23.007, be

That the following be added to clause b), subsection 1: i. That all tax-rate funded staff requests be

That the following be added to clause b) 1: ii. Increase summer camp revenues due to registration estimates ($50,000). February 14, 2023 BCW#03-23 iii. Reduction in the Waste container purchases ($20,000).

a) That Staff Report SRCFS.23.007 regarding the 2023 Operating Budget be received; b) That the 2023 City Operating Budget: 1. With a recommended budget increase of $4,478,300 and a total tax levy of $126,095,200 (excluding supplementary taxes),summarized in Appendix “A” to staff report SRCFS.23.007, be approved subject to the following: i. Remove the opt-out option for the Windrow Snow Removal Program ($126,000). ii. Increase summer camp revenues due to registration estimates ($50,000). iii. Reduction in the Waste container purchases ($20,000). 2. That the 2023 Senior Tax Assistance Grant increase to $419, be approved; 3. That the draft By-law 23-23, attached as Appendix “D” to staff report SRCFS.23.007, be

a) That staff report SRCFS.23.005 regarding the Municipal Elections Campaign Contribution Rebate Program be received; b) That the “Allocation of Election Campaign Surpluses and Other Contributions Policy”, attached as Attachment “G” to staff report SRCFS.23.005, be approved; c) That staff be directed to bring forward an appropriate By-law to a future Council Meeting to formally establish an Election Reserve that was created by previous Council’s.

a) That staff report SRCFS.23.010 regarding reinstatement of community Bulletin Board in the Liberal Newspaper, be received for information; b) That Option 3 to “Reinstate bi-weekly, half page Bulletin Board”, as outlined in staff report SRCFS.23.010, be approved.

WHEREAS Council is committed to open and transparent process in setting the annual Operating Budget to deliver quality programs and services to residents and businesses in the City of Richmond Hill; February 14, 2023 BCW#03-23 WHEREAS it has been the practice to hold public meetings for budget consultations with the community, and the City has previously conducted budget consultations in public spaces (shopping mall and library) and online surveys to reach out to residents in the past which were not the most effective method to consult for the City’s budget; WHEREAS the City has used “Citizen Budget”, an online interactive tool, for residents and businesses to provide input and contribute to the budgetary process at a time and place that is convenient to them; WHEREAS there is an opportunity to further demonstrate Council's commitment to engage the public in the annual process for setting the Operating Budget for the City by providing renewed public information and participation options; and WHEREAS it has been the practice of other municipalities to provide various levels of budget consultation and promotion as part of their respective annual process for Operating Budgets, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That staff are requested to report back on a budget consultation plan for the 2024 Budget process, including the use of an online budget tool/survey before summer recess in 2023.

That the meeting be adjourned