Region exploring cuts to reduce a potential 11 per cent tax increase in 2025

Staff at the Region of Waterloo are working to cut down a potential 11 per cent tax increase with just one week before the 2025 budget needs to be finalized and approved.

Regional council had originally set a guideline of a less-than 8 per cent tax increase in 2025.

In order to reach that goal, staff published a 22-item list of potential cuts, adjustments, or rate increases that could shave up to 7.8 million off of the property tax levy.

The public was invited back to Regional Headquarters on Tuesday to share their opinions on the potential cuts and adjustments.

One area of potential savings that was identified and picked over by staff was funding for Grand River Transit (GRT) services. Staff recommended cutting services, removing garbage cans at bus stops, and increasing the cost of a monthly GRT pass as ways to reduce the property tax increase.

Many who made the trip to Regional Headquarters spoke out against cuts to GRT services, citing concerns over accessibility and affordability.

“This cut would be especially disastrous for people with accessibility concerns who require transit to get around [University of Waterloo] campus in a timely manner, as well as women and other vulnerable groups who rely on Route 30 to get around safely on campus when it’s dark out,” said Jacob Ellis, a resident of Waterloo.

Several cuts to community and public health services were also explored, including reductions to children’s services core funding, cutting funding for low-income adults who need emergency dental work, and a 30 per cent decrease in funding to the group Counselling Collaborative, which is made up of five nonprofit, community mental health agencies.

“Economic uncertainty is our new norm,” said Robyn Schwarz of Cambridge. “Rising costs and tax increases concern all of us, yet cutting funding for essential community services drives inequality and makes outcomes worse for all taxpayers.”

In all, the potential cuts would amount to an approximately 1 per cent change to change to the tax hike in 2025.

Councillor Rob Deutschmann has been advocating for a significant cut to the Waterloo Regional Police budget in 2025 for some time now, and his motion to reduce their budget by approximately $4 million came before the Administration and Finance Committee on Tuesday.

Deutschmann claims a lack of transparency from regional police when it comes to staffing, adding that the service has not met it’s goals when it comes to hiring officers.

Chief of Police Mark Crowell pushed back on those claims on The Mike Farwell Show on Tuesday.

“If there’s any lingering questions about the need, or about the difficulties we’re facing, and meeting those expectations, that should be done in a public forum, or we will provide every citizen that engagement and that conversation. That’s our commitment to our community,” explained Crowell.

The chief added that people in Waterloo Region have the third-lowest cost-per-resident when it comes to policing compared to other municipalities in Ontario.

“We do not want to occupy any more space, when it comes to the total balance of social services and public services, than is necessary,” added Crowell.

Deutschmann’s motion was eventually defeated, with six votes in favour and nine in opposition.

The 2025 budget will be finalized and approved by regional council on Dec. 11.