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The budget is the City's plan for the coming period, expressed in dollars. It is prepared taking into consideration community input and direction from City Council. The budget is made up of three parts:
Operating Budget - Annual operations of city facilities and services, primarily funded through property taxes and user fees, excluding water and sewer.
Water and Sewer Budget - Annual operations of water and sewer distribution, funded through user rates.
Capital Budget - Capital program for all city projects, funded through taxes, water and sewer fees, development charges, debt, grants, or other reserve funds.
In June the City collected feedback for the upcoming 2024 budget. This feedback will help directly inform staff on preparing their budget submissions. The staff proposed budget will then be taken to City Council for review and approval in November/December.
For more information, visit https://www.engagewr.ca/budget-2024.
View the 2024 Budget Timeline and Guidelines Report
Past budgets
View the following documents related to the past budgets:
2023 budget documents |
2023 BudgetThe 2023 Budget and Business Plan was approved on February 21, 2023. For a brief overview of the approved Budget and Business Plan, read the news release. View the the 2023 Approved Budget and Business Plan and the Budget 2023 Highlights. The budget and business plan provides the City’s direction in meeting its goals and objectives under the newly updated Strategic Plan, Cambridge Connected. The budget highlights the City’s commitment to public value, through a concerted effort to bring tax and water rate increases within the rate of inflation while maintaining existing services and furthering the work towards our strategic actions. The 2023 Capital Budget represents a $75 million investment in new infrastructure, the rehabilitation and replacement of existing infrastructure, and supports the overall growth of the City. The Operating Budget dedicates $150 million toward the cost of City services, excluding water and sewer services. And the Water Utility Budget includes $77 million towards the daily cost of running the water and wastewater utilities, including the purchase of clean water and wastewater treatment from the Region of Waterloo. Average Residential Impact For the average home in Cambridge, the approved rate increases for the 2023 budget are:
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2022 budget documents |
2022 BudgetCity Council approved the 2022 Budget and Business Plan: Our City. Our Future on Dec. 2, 2021. The 2022 Capital Budget represents a $59 million investment in new infrastructure, the rehabilitation and replacement of existing infrastructure, and supports the overall growth of the city. The Operating Budget dedicates $133.4 million toward the cost of city services, excluding water and sewer services. The 2022 Budget acts as a roadmap for ongoing COVID-19 recovery efforts and focuses on initiatives which invest in neighbourhoods and recreation facilities, and supports local businesses and core areas. 2022 Budget HighlightsThe budget is aligned with the strategic plan, Cambridge Connected, to clearly demonstrate how the City is meeting its goals. People
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Prosperity
Household Impacts The approved 2022 Budget represents an increase of 4.24 per cent, which equals approximately $61/year for the average household. The Preston Auditorium design represents 1.2 per cent of the increase. Council also approved a water utility increase of 2.39 per cent ($29/year) which is well below the original projection of 3.9 per cent in the approved long-range financial plan. View the 2022 Budget and Business Plan and the Budget 2022 highlights. |
2021 budget documents |
2021 BudgetOn December 2, 2020 Cambridge City Council approved the 2021 Budget and Business Plan, concluding the 2021 Budget process. Council approved a property tax increase of 1.27 per cent, which is less than the forecasted cost of inflation, and represents $17.95/year for the average household. It is the lowest tax rate in the City of Cambridge in the last decade. Council also voted to keep water utility rates the same in 2021. The 2021 capital portion of the budget represents a $61.9 million investment for new infrastructure and to support growth of the city, as well as the rehabilitation and replacement of existing infrastructure. The operating portion dedicates $124,736,000 towards the daily costs of running city services, excluding water and sewer services. Most of the initiatives contained in the 2021 Budget are the continuation of key multi-year projects. This includes the design of the recreation complex, construction of the Preston Auditorium and Fountain Street Soccer complex, trail improvements, stormwater infrastructure renewal, the Beverly Street pedestrian underpass design and other road work. These community investments will assist with increasing private sector job creation and local economic recovery. The City will also continue to focus on emergency and pandemic preparedness, community wellbeing and safety, and supporting local businesses. |
2020 budget documents |
2020 BudgetThe 2020 Budget and Business Plan, Investing in Our City, Invested in Our Citizens, includes the City's operating, water utility and capital budgets. The budget is presented in alignment with our strategic plan to clearly demonstrate how we're meeting our goals as a city. We are committed to the responsible allocation of tax dollars to ensure that our community is receiving the best possible services and that our city is moving forward in a progressive and innovative manner. The 2020 Water Utility Budget and Capital Budget were approved by the Budget and Audit Committee in December 2019 and the 2020 Operating Budget was approved by Council in February 2020, concluding the 2020 Budget process. The Capital Budget represents a $50.9 million investment for new infrastructure and to support growth of the city as well as the rehabilitation and replacement of existing infrastructure, while the Operating budget dedicates $124.2 million towards the daily costs of running city services, excluding water and sewer services. Please see investment highlights. 2020 Budget and Business plan: Key Investments
Household ImpactsThe approved overall 2020 Budget increased by 3.73 per cent. Please note that the City’s portion of your overall tax bill is 36 per cent, with the Region of Waterloo and local school board portions making up the remainder (64 per cent). Once the regional and education portions of the tax bill are included, the City’s tax levy increase will raise the overall property taxes paid by 1.34 per cent for the average household.
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2019 budget documents |
2019 Approved BudgetThe approved 2019 budget includes the City's operating, water utility and capital budgets. The budget is presented in alignment with our strategic plan to clearly demonstrate how we're meeting our goals as a city. We are committed to the responsible allocation of tax dollars to ensure that our community is receiving the best possible services and that our city is moving forward in a progressive and innovative manner. The 2019 approved rate changes and impact to the homeowner are calculated on an average house cost of $310,200. The approved 2019 rate changes are:
The total impact annually on the average household is $79.70. The approved 2019 budget summary and details are available below. Read the 2019 Budget in Brief View the Budget Info Series presentation
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2018 budget documents |
2018 Multi-year BudgetView the 2018 Multi-Year Budget. View the 2018 Draft Budget Summary Report for an overview of the 2018 multi-year budget. The Summary Report also includes potential impacts for the 2019 and 2020 budget forecasts. 2018 Operating BudgetView the following documents to learn more about the 2018 Operating Budget:
2018 Water and Sewer BudgetView Appendix D: 2018-2020 Water and Sewer Operating Budget and Forecast Details for more information. 2018 Capital BudgetView Appendix F: 2018-2027 Capital Project Details to learn more. 2018 Municipal Fees and ChargesThe City's Fees and Charges outline the user fees for various city services. Council reviews and approves the Municipal Fees and Charges as part of the annual budget process. View Appendix E: 2018 - 2020 Fees and Charges for a list of all fees for 2018, along with their 2019 and 2020 forecasts. |
If you require an accessible version of the budget documents, please contact Accessibility Planning and Inclusion Services.