Hamilton council hears from residents on 2024 budget

The City of Hamilton is preparing its 2024 budget and seeking input from residents in the process on what should be prioritized in the upcoming year.

A city staff report says that Hamilton residents could potentially see a 14.2 per cent hike in municipal taxes next year if council fails to find areas to cut down the budget.

Hamilton Council says it intends to find ways to do so before approving the 2024 rate supported operating budget on Dec. 13 and the tax operating budget on Feb. 15 of next year.

Issues that were top of mind for community members at a meeting held Monday afternoon were the housing crisis, encampments and support for tenants who are renting.

The Hamilton Community Benefits Network advised council on how much the province’s development charge exemptions to speed up building homes could impact taxpayers themselves.

“I would urge you when you’re making those hard decisions to not forget that there are real people living in encampments, people who are facing massive eviction crisis, housing crisis and intercepting opioid crisis and perhaps now is not the time to be giving such large support to the development industry that clearly doesn’t need it.” says Karl Andrus of Hamilton Community Benefits Network. 

The second delegation day is expected to take place at the General Issues Committee meeting on Jan. 16 of next year.

READ MORE: Hamilton Transit workers reject offer, will strike Thursday