2023 Budget

Each year, typically in late summer or early fall, staff members from each City department begin to examine their budgets for the following year, estimating their expected revenue and expenses.

That information is collected by the Director of Corporate Services (the City’s treasurer), and reviewed with the Chief Administrative Officer.

A draft or preliminary budget is prepared, and that serves as a starting point for formal budget discussions by the Finance and Labour Relations Committee.

The committee may approve the draft budget as presented, but typically recommends some changes to it – adding, removing or revising items. Public consultation, usually in the form of budget open houses, as well as feedback gathered online and through letters and phone calls, helps to inform the committee’s deliberations.

When its budget discussions are complete, the Finance and Labour Relations Committee will make a recommendation to City Council to adopt the budget. The budget is formally approved by Council with the passing of a budget by-law. This year, the budget by-law is expected to be considered by Council sometime in March.

In the meantime, engage with us here on Engage Stratford.

Below is a link to a survey where you can provide your feedback on priorities for the coming year. The survey will be available until January 3, 2023. Also, ask us a question about the budget, and we'll do our best to answer it.

Background information, including budget FAQs and videos, and a list of upcoming budget meeting dates, is available on the right side of this page. Draft budget documents will be added as they become available.