Budget
The annual budget is an important policy document that dictates how the City will collect and allocate resources to best improve and maintain City services and infrastructure for the community.
The budget is broken down into two components: the Capital Budget and the Operating Budget.
If an alternate format is required for any of the documentation found on this webpage please email budget@belleville.ca or call 613-968-6481.
2026 Budget
Frequently Asked Questions
Staff have provided the following FAQ in response to City-specific topics residents requested in the Draft Operating Budget Survey.
| Why is the Police budget increasing so significantly? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Police Services increase is primarily driven by provincial legislative requirements, collective agreement obligations, and the need to maintain mandated service levels such as 24/7 coverage, court security, training standards, and compliance with the Community Safety and Policing Act. The majority of police spending relates to salaries and benefits. Additional pressures include training, technology and evidence-management systems, vehicles and equipment, and reserve contributions to support long-term capital planning. Oversight of the police budget is provided by the Police Services Board, and the budget is reviewed annually through the City’s formal budget process. Helpful Resources:
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| How is the City ensuring transparency and accountability? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The City ensures all budget documents, departmental plans, Council and Finance Committee reports, audited financial statements and our performance dashboard are available publicly. In addition to transparency and accountability in information provided to the public, feedback collected through surveys and written submissions is also summarized and provided to Council as part of the budget process to ensure the public's input is heard and considered by decision-makers.
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| Why do tax rates differ between urban and rural areas? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Property tax rates and charges may differ by area when service levels, infrastructure, or past funding arrangements vary. These differences are meant to reflect the true cost of providing services in each part of the municipality. The City regularly reviews service areas and rate structures to ensure they are fair, transparent and aligned with how services are delivered. Policing, fire, transit and streetlighting are currently area-rated services. The City has five (5) separate service areas as follows:
*Core services are the costs of services that all tax areas share and help fund. In 2024 Council approved the implementation of the Fire Master Plan. This plan outlined a number of recommendations for the Fire Service include updating the full-time response boundary to expand northerly, into the previous Cannifton Rural area. The transition from rural fire response to full-time fire response results in a sizable increase in service costs for this area (approximately 9%). To manage taxpayer affordability, Council approved transitioning this group of taxpayers into paying for the costs of this service over 5 years (2025-2029). This has resulted in tax increases across tax tables having a larger spread, which will continue over this transition period. Helpful Resources:
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| Why are City wages and administrative costs increasing? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wage and benefit costs are included within each department’s operating budget, and are driven by collective agreements, employment contracts and statutory benefit requirements. Departments with 24/7 service requirements can experience greater wage pressures. The following collective bargaining units are part of the City department’s labour force:
There is also administrative personnel group within City departments. Other boards and external agencies also have various collective bargaining units within their respective operations. Staffing levels and wage costs are summarized within the City’s departmental planning document, with overall impacts also identified within the base budget adjustment breakdowns and complete account-by-account detail included in the operating detail. Additionally, the City ensures legislative requirements for public salary disclosure and council remuneration disclosures under the Municipal Act are met. Helpful Resources: |
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| How is reserve funding spent? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Reserve funds help maintain the City’s long-term financial stability and reduce pressure on annual property taxes. They are used to fund capital projects, manage one-time or cyclical costs, meet legal obligations, and respond to unexpected or emerging needs. Their use is guided by Council-approved policies that set out when funds can be used and how they must be replenished. Details on reserve fund balances, transfers, and expenditures are reported to the Finance Committee at each meeting and to Council through the budget process and in regular financial reports, including the annual audited financial statements. Council reviews reserve fund usage to ensure it is appropriate, transparent, and aligned with the City’s financial sustainability objectives. Helpful Resources: |
Historical Budgets
The City’s historical Capital and Operating Budgets below may include amendments made throughout the year in accordance with the City’s Budget & Financial Controls Policy.
| 2025 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
Financial Statements
Financial Statements are prepared annually and reviewed by an independent auditor. All statements are in compliance with Public Sector Accounting Standards for municipalities.
| Financial Statements |
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Request a copy of the Financial Statements 2019-2022. |
Other Financial Reports
| Reserve Funds | ||||||||||||||
| Reserve fund balances are reported to the City’s Finance Committee bi-monthly and in accordance with the City’s Reserve & Reserve Fund Policy. | ||||||||||||||
| About FIR Reporting | ||||||||||||||
| All Ontario municipalities are required to submit an annual Financial Information Return (FIR) to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. To review the City’s annual submissions and compare with other municipalities, visit the Province's Financial Information Return website. | ||||||||||||||
| Shoreline Casino | ||||||||||||||
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Every year the City of Belleville receives quarterly payments from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) Corporation for hosting the Shorelines Casino. The purpose of this funding is to provide Capital Funds to infrastructure projects in accordance with By-law 2020-10 and Amending By-law 2025-188.
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