The process to draft the City of Peterborough’s 2025 Budget is underway. In August, council directed City finance staff to draft a budget with an all-inclusive tax rate increase no higher than 5%. Then, on Nov. 4, Treasurer Richard Freymond presented the draft budget to council. However, instead of following council’s directed tax rate goal, it contains a 7.8% all-inclusive tax rate increase.
The 7.8% increase is lower than the estimated increase that would maintain current levels of service (8.42%), so cuts are necessary.
One of the proposed cuts in the draft budget is a 25% reduction in community services grant programs. The threat of finding cuts to arts and community service organizations inspired a strong community response: a rally was planned under the title ‘Community not Cuts.’
Over 200 people gathered in front of City Hall on Nov. 12 to advocate for the community services grant programs and, immediately after, 33 delegates spoke at that evening’s council meeting to comment on the 2025 draft budget.
