City to launch Mayor's 2026 budget engagement with tech twist

Share your feedback until July 31,2025

The City of Cambridge is inviting residents to help shape the 2026 Mayor’s municipal budget by taking part in a survey from June 18-July 31.

This year, the City is making it easier than ever to share your feedback by introducing W.I.T.Y. the budget bot – a fun, accessible way to provide feedback on What’s Important To You (W.I.T.Y).

“W.I.T.Y helps us reach people in their everyday spaces, making the budget process more accessible, inclusive, and reflective of our entire community. We want to make it as easy as possible for residents to share their thoughts on what matters most to them,” said Mayor Jan Liggett. “We are committed to hearing from as many residents as possible as we plan for the future of our city. W.I.T.Y is a tool that helps us connect with voices we may have not reached before, ensuring everyone has a chance to shape the 2026 budget. It is about removing barriers to participation and making sure every resident has a simple and meaningful way to share their priorities. We know people are busy, so we are bringing the budget conversation to them this year.”

W.I.T.Y. is a mobile survey with a built-in touchscreen that will be rolling out across the community over the next few weeks.

Where to find W.I.T.Y. the budget bot:

W.I.T.Y will be making appearances across the city until July 31 and updates will be provided on the City’s social media channels. Locations for the week of June 23 include:

• W.G. Johnson Centre, 31 Kribs St.
• David Durward Centre, 62 Dickson St.
• Allan Reuter Centre, 507 King St.

Businesses and organizations looking to host W.I.T.Y are encouraged to reach out to the City by emailing corpcomms@cambridge.ca. Hosts must be able to provide indoor space, Wi-Fi access, and basic supervision.

Why your voice matters

The City’s annual budget process sets the roadmap for how services are delivered, what investments are made and helps plan for the future. It guides how money is spent and raised to determine the level of service that can be provided for the more than 140 programs and services residents depend on every single day. It also guides key decisions on what City infrastructure will be built and repaired to support the continued growth of our community to align with City priorities.

By participating in the survey, residents are helping the Mayor and Council understand community priorities, as planning for 2026 begins.

To learn more about the budget and participate in the survey, visit cambridge.ca/BudgetSurvey

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