Marathon budget meeting ends without setting Waterloo Region budget

2025 Budget planning underway at Region of Waterloo council, Dec. 11, 2024. (Courtesy: Region of Waterloo)

Waterloo Region Council was expected to set the 2025 budget on Wednesday, but after a marathon meeting, councillors left the horseshoe without making a final decision.

Discussions lasted late into the night, as councillors whittled down what was once a 10.45 per cent property tax hike to 9.79 per cent. However, the rate rose slightly to 9.83 per cent before council adjourned.

Councillors had been going through the proposed budget line by line, trying to find savings as most members agreed substantial cuts were needed.

The budget includes spending for everything from regional police services to roadwork and transit.

Councillors were also tasked with deciding what services may need more funding, such as an option to hire more public health inspectors or dedicate more funding to paramedic services.

“There are going to be tough decisions,” Kitchener Mayor Barry Vrbanovic told CTV News. “This may mean postponing some capital projects. [Council] need[s] to take a harder look at some operating areas that seem to be increasing an inordinate amount and quite frankly we’re going to need to send staff back to look at those, in my view, to bring those amounts down.”

The meeting came to an end without a decision on the final budget. Councillors will be reconvening on Dec. 20 to continue the discussion.