Regional Council Passes Budget to Maintain Essential Service Delivery

Waterloo Region – Regional Council passed a 2025 Plan and Budget December 20^th, that maintains the essential services residents rely on across Waterloo Region. 

As inflation and rising costs continue to impact households, the Region’s budget balances affordability with the service needs of a growing community.  

The total 2025 Operating and Capital budget for Regional services, including costs for Waterloo Region Police Services, is $2.4 billion, which represents a tax rate impact of 9.48%. This amounts to an annual increase of $241 for an average property, or $20 per month. 

Highlights of the 2025 Plan and Budget include: 

• More paramedics to meet increasing 911 call demands  
• Building more affordable homes 
• Improving road safety through traffic calming, municipal speed cameras, and safety designs at roundabouts 
• Advancing the Plan to End Chronic Homeless, including 
  • enhancing extreme weather supports for those experiencing homelessness 
  • expanding rent supplements for people to find homes they can afford and stay in them for as long as they need 
• Ensuring continued safe drinking water 
• Helping people find and succeed in jobs that help them live better lives 
• More buses and frequency to serve overcrowded routes  
• Expanding accessible transit through MobilityPLUS  
• Making transit free for children under six 
• Increasing library operating hours  
• Construction of new water wells to support new housing 

Council also approved a number of service reductions to offset increased budgetary costs, including reducing operating costs, and delaying the reopening of Doon Village to 2026.  

Each year, the Region’s Plan and Budget process engages community members to identify priority areas of investment and community needs. 

Throughout the Plan and Budget process, staff work to identify operational savings and efficiencies to support growing service needs. Over the past six years, $44 million in savings has been achieved and implemented. 

For more information on the 2025 Plan and Budget, visit www.regionofwaterloo.ca/planandbudget 

Quotes: 

This year, we’ve worked hard to build a budget for 2025 that keeps pace with a community that’s growing faster than ever, while recognizing that this is a very difficult time for tax-payers. It is more important than ever to maintain the essential services that residents rely on every day. I believe this budget strikes a balance in providing what residents need now and laying the foundation for the needs of our future community.   

- Regional Chair Karen Redman 

This was a challenging budget process as we continue to navigate inflation, cost escalation, and the pressures a growing population has on our infrastructure and services. I’m glad that Council worked together and was able to find the balance necessary to maintain the services that residents rely on, while keeping the impact on individual taxpayers front of mind. 

- Michael Harris, Regional Councillor and Chair of the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee 

“From paramedic services to transit, to waste and water services, and more, Regional staff deliver the essential programs and services residents rely on every day. This budget allows us to continue this valuable work across each corner of Waterloo Region. I want to thank staff for their dedication and professionalism over many months to prepare and deliver the 2025 Plan and Budget to Regional Council and for their ongoing service to the community.” 

-  Mathieu Goetzke, Acting Chief Administrative Officer, Region of Waterloo 

-30-