Our Municipal Budgets

The budget represents the vision of the Municipality. It is a balanced and sustainable financial plan to deliver municipal services efficiently at approved levels, while also planning for the needs of the future. The budget identifies the resources required to deliver services, while the tax policy identifies how the budget requirement is raised.  Our fiscal year is from January 1 to December 31.

2025 Annual Budget Update

An important element of the Multi-Year Budget is the annual update process. Commencing in 2025 and in each subsequent year of the Multi-Year Budget, Council is required by the Municipal Act to review and readopt the budget for that year. Any changes that are required to make the budget compliant with the provisions of the Municipal Act will be completed at such time. Annual updates will also provide Council the opportunity to adjust the budget to provide flexibility for events or circumstances that may require funding and resource adjustments. The 2025 Annual Budget Update is Chatham-Kent's first update since the 2024-2027 Multi-Year Budget was approved. As part of the annual update process, three categories dictate the criteria for any changes: (1) New Council Direction; (2) Cost Driver; and (3) New or Changed Regulation.

More information related to the 2025 Annual Budget Update can be found here

Past Budgets

Budget Policy

Our municipal budget is actually made up of three budgets - an Operating Budget, a Capital Budget and a Lifecycle Budget.

The Operating Budget covers the costs associated with the operation of the municipality, e.g. garbage collection and disposal, social benefits, maintenance, vehicles, salaries, equipment, etc. Council approves the operating budget through a series of Budget Committee meetings at the beginning of each fiscal year.

The Capital Budget covers the capital projects undertaken by the municipality each year, e.g. major asset reconstruction like roads, sewers or new asset development. The five-year plan is reviewed and presented to Council in a separate report, with approval recommended for the current year projects only. 

The Lifecycle Budget covers the annual rehabilitation and renewal of municipal assets and currently does not provide funding requirements for replacement. Further detail is available under the Asset Management Policy. Each category of asset covered under the Asset Management Plan presents a prioritized and recommended annual plan for the utilization of the budget in a separate report to Council after the budget process.

Read the full Budget Policy here.