2025 Proposed Municipal Budget

The City of Brandon will be releasing the 2025 proposed municipal budget this week. All documents will be available on brandon.ca tomorrow, Jan 8, 2025. The municipal budget is written by city staff, then debated, amended and passed by City Council.

Brandon City Council will deliberate the 2025 proposed budget as prepared by City administration on Fri, Jan. 24 and Sat, Jan. 25. Deliberations will be held in the Council Chamber on the 2nd floor of Brandon City Hall at 410 – 9th Street and are open to the public and media to observe. The deliberations will also be livestreamed via the City of Brandon YouTube channel. Westman Communications Group TV (WCGtv) will also be live streaming this event.

Prior to Budget Deliberations, the following pre-budget sessions will take place:

• Capital Budget – Part I            Wed, Jan. 8, 6 – 9 p.m. in Council Chambers
• Capital Budget – Part II           Mon, Jan. 13, 6 – 9 p.m. in Council Chambers
• Public Open House                 Thu, Jan. 16, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. in City Hall Foyer
• Other Budgetary Items            Tue, Jan. 21, 6 – 9 p.m. in Council Chambers

The public open house on Jan. 16 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. is a come-and-go event where members of the public can ask specific questions regarding the proposed budget to city administration. A brief presentation by the Director of Finance will be held at 5:30 p.m.

The 2025 proposed budget will require an additional $6.2 million in municipal taxes levied. That would require a 12% increase in revenue, which for an average property owner would be an 11.7% increase in the municipal portion of their tax bill from last year.

The proposed combined general and utility budgets are $153.4 million. The proposed capital plan is $151.6 million, which includes $37.9 million in Federal and Provincial grant funding. Based on an average single-family residential property assessed at $301,300, the daily cost is $6.59, or an annual cost of $2,406 (municipal taxes only).

Major projects from the proposed capital budget includes:

• $30.7 million for wastewater infrastructure enhancements and preservation including the Southwest Wastewater Servicing Project
• $28.5 million for the water treatment facility expansion
• $18.9 million for land drainage improvements, including the Southeast Drainage Project
• $13.2 million for upgrades for streets, sidewalks, and active transportation
• $6.1 million for completion of the upgrades for the Brandon’s Community Sportsplex ice arena, which is expected to be opened by fall 2025
• $5.8 million for refurbishment of Transit Fleet
• $4.6 million for the completion of the Maple Leaf Foods Sports Complex, which is expected to open by summer 2025

Other notable items in the proposed operating budget include increased funding for improved road and property restoration, a new low-income water audit / fixture subsidy program, and enhanced Transit security.

City Council welcomes comments or feedback on the proposed 2025 budget, which can be sent via email to budget@brandon.ca.