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Budget and Finance

Engage in the City of Owen Sound’s 2025 Budget Process: Opportunities for Local Residents

Though 2025 may still seem far off, the City of Owen Sound is already starting next year’s operating budget planning process and invites residents to actively participate in informing service levels and projects that impact the community throughout the year in several different ways.  

Key Insights into Navigating the 2024 City of Owen Sound Operating Budget:

Each year, City Council considers community priorities, Strategic Priorities, expected service levels, and legislated responsibilities as it sets the operating and capital budgets for the City of Owen Sound.

Operating budgets cover the City's daily services and programs.  The Operating Budget is reviewed and updated annually.  Operating costs include materials and supplies, wages and wage-related costs, contract payments, debt payments and transfers to reserves to fund future capital.

The 2024 tax levy Operating Budget totals $34.9 million.

View the Final 2024 Operating Budget Presentation to Council 

Capital Plan

The City of Owen Sound has implemented a multi-year budget planning process with a five-year outlook on Capital projects.  This road map, built with the guidance of Council and with their Strategic Priorities in mind, provides a longer-term outlook on Capital spending.

Benefits of multi-year capital planning include:
• Alignment of longer-term goals and objectives with funding plans.
• Greater certainty for residents about the future direction of taxes.
• Improved accountability and transparency of the long-term spending plan.
• Flexible allocation of resources over time.
• Improved resource planning for more complex, multi-year Capital projects.
• More efficient use of time and resources as the organization is not in ‘perpetual budget mode'.
• Ability to tender projects earlier and receive more favourable pricing.

Capital dollars are spent on the City's assets and infrastructure. While regular repairs and maintenance are budgeted for under operating, the capital budget plans for major rehabilitation, replacement and new capital assets. Capital project examples include bridge replacements, building refurbishments or upgrades, or new equipment.

The 2025-2029 Capital Plan includes $81.3 million in funded Capital Projects.

The Appendices include more detailed breakdowns of each capital project and can be viewed by clicking the links below:
Appendix A - Full List of 2025 - 2029 Projects

Contact Us

808 2nd Avenue East,
Owen Sound, ON
N4K 2H4
Phone: 519-376-1440
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