Close Alert Banner
Close Browser Compatibility Banner
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.
Skip navigation
Back to Homepage
  • Living Here

    • A to Z Services
    • Animal Services and Control
    • Child Care and Early Learning
    • Community Services
    • Community Gardens
    • Council Members
    • COVID-19 INFORMATION CENTRE
    • Education and Schools
    • Emergency Services, Response and Planning
    • Employment Support
    • Environmental Sustainability
    • Events Calendar
    • Financial Assistance
    • Food Banks
    • Garbage and Recycling
    • Home Renovations
    • Housing and Shelter
    • New to Canada or Waterloo Region
    • News and Public Notices
    • Older Adults
    • Roads and Traffic
    • Safety and Crime Prevention
    • Taxes
    • Transportation and Transit
    • Water and Wastewater
  • Exploring the Region

    • About Waterloo Region
    • Airport
    • Archives
    • Arts, Culture and Heritage
    • Events Calendar
    • Exploring the Region
    • Forests and Trails
    • Library
    • Maps
    • Museums
    • Transportation and Transit
  • Doing Business

    • Applications, Licences and Permits
    • Bids and Tenders
    • Commercial Waste
    • Community Profile
    • Construction and Design Standards
    • Economic Development
    • Health Standards for Business
    • Incentive Programs
    • Key Initiatives
    • Key Sectors
    • Operating a Child Care Business
    • Payment Options
    • Planning and Development Services
    • Regional Investments
    • Spills Prevention and Response
    • Surplus Auction
    • Workplace Wellness
  • Health and Wellness

    • Alcohol and Drugs
    • Cannabis Vaping and Tobacco
    • Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan
    • Dementia Services
    • Environmental Health
    • Food and Drinking Water
    • Health Services and Resources
    • Healthy Living
    • Immunizations and Vaccines
    • Infection and Disease
    • Older Adult Health
    • Parenting and Child Health
    • Pregnancy and Baby's First Year
    • Public Health and Emergency Services
    • Public Health Inspections
    • Rehabilitation and Respite Care
    • School Health
    • Sexual Health
    • Sunnyside Home Long-Term Care
    • Sunnyside Wellness Centre
    • Youth Health
  • Regional Government

    • Agendas, Minutes and Webcasts
    • Awards
    • Budget and Financial Statements
    • By-laws
    • Careers and Volunteering
    • Commissioner of Oaths
    • Contact Us
    • Council
    • Departments
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • Elections
    • News and Public Notices
    • Open Government
    • Provincial Offences Court and Traffic Tickets
    • Public Engagement
    • Regional Responsibilities - Who Does What in Government
    • Reports, Plans and Data
    • Strategic Plan
    • I want to...

View our Facebook Page View our Twitter Page View our YouTube Page

  • Budget and Financial Statements
    Toggle Section
    • Municipal Performance Measures
    • Service Review 2019
  • Agendas, Minutes and Webcasts
    Toggle Section
    • Live Webcast
  • Awards
  • By-laws
    Toggle Section
    • By-law Enforcement
    • Frequently Requested By-laws
    • Smoke Free Ontario signs
    • Tobacco and E-cigarette Conviction Report
  • Careers and Volunteering
    Toggle Section
    • Hiring Process
    • Job Postings
    • Student Jobs and Placements
    • Volunteer
    • Why work for the Region?
  • Commissioner of Oaths
  • Contact Us
    Toggle Section
    • Complaints and Feedback
  • Council
    Toggle Section
    • Agencies and Boards
    • Agendas, Minutes and Webcasts
      Toggle Section
      • Past Agendas & Minutes
        Toggle Section
        • 2016
        • 2015
        • 2014
        • 2013
        • 2012
        • 2011
    • Chair
      Toggle Section
      • State of the Region
      • Statements by Chair Redman
    • Committees
    • Council Members
      Toggle Section
      • Councillor Berry Vrbanovic
      • Councillor Dave Jaworsky
      • Councillor Elizabeth Clarke
      • Councillor Geoff Lorentz
      • Councillor Helen Jowett
      • Councillor Jim Erb
      • Councillor Joe Nowak
      • Councillor Karl Kiefer
      • Councillor Kathryn McGarry
      • Councillor Les Armstrong
      • Councillor Michael Harris
      • Councillor Sandy Shantz
      • Councillor Sean Strickland
      • Councillor Sue Foxton
      • Councillor Tom Galloway
    • Communicate with Council
    • Conflict of Interest
    • Expenses
    • Meeting Calendar
    • Council
  • Departments
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    Toggle Section
    • Black History Month
    • Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee
    • Website Accessibility
  • Elections
    Toggle Section
    • 2018 Election Results
    • 2018 Regional Candidates
    • Past Results
    • Compliance Audit Committee
    • Nominations Process
  • News and Public Notices
    Toggle Section
    • Calendar
    • Council Info
    • Region News
    • News Release
    • Public Notice
  • Open Government
    Toggle Section
    • Access to Information
    • Ombuds Services
    • Open Data
  • Provincial Offences Court and Traffic Tickets
  • Public Engagement
  • Regional Responsibilities - Who Does What in Government
    Toggle Section
    • Board of Health
  • Reports, Plans and Data
    Toggle Section
    • Accessibility and Diversity
    • Agriculture
    • Business and Labour
    • Census
    • Environment
    • Families, Children and Youth
    • Garbage, Recycling and Landfill
    • Health
      Toggle Section
      • Public Health Strategic Plan
      • Waterloo Region Influenza Bulletins
      • Waterloo Region Overdose Monitoring
    • Housing
    • Immigration and Refugees
    • Income and Employment
    • Older Adults
    • Planning and development
    • Population
    • Strategic Plan and Performance
      Toggle Section
      • Progress updates
      • Community Engagement
    • Transportation and Transit
    • Water and Wastewater
      Toggle Section
      • Environmental Records Search
  • Strategic Plan
    Toggle Section
    • Community Engagement
    • Our Vision, Mission and Values
    • Regional Chair's Message
  • I want to...

Budget and Financial Statements

  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Email This page Email
Home/Regional Government/Budget and Financial Statements

hand writing "budget"

2021 Budget 

The Region's annual budget process began on November 25, 2020 and the final 2021 Budget announced January 20, 2021.

Regional Plan Beyond COVID-19

The foundation for Council’s vision for Waterloo Region is rooted in resident feedback that was gathered as part of the Strategic Planning process. Over 12,400 residents provided detailed feedback on key community issues through this process.

Six focus areas have been identified and these help shape Council’s vision for the community. These areas are:

  • A Thriving Economy
  • Sustainable Transportation
  • Environment and Climate Action
  • Healthy Safe and Inclusive Communities
  • Responsive and Engaging Public Service
  • Our people

In response to the impacts of COVID-19 and following additional input from the community in the summer of 2020, Regional Council is further prioritizing affordable housing, addressing inequities, providing tailored supports to local business, seeking innovation in service delivery and investing in ongoing management of the pandemic.

The approval of the 2021 budget allows the Region of Waterloo to continue working to fulfil Council’s vision to improve the lives of all 630,000 residents.

 

What are the major investment areas in Council’s vision through the 2021 budget?

  • Continuing investment in our world-class transit service to reflect current ridership levels
    • ensuring frontline and essential workers are best served
    • ensuring we are well placed for economic recovery
  • Enhanced paramedic and ambulance services
  • Tailored funding to manage the pandemic through the addition of over 100 new public health staff, as well as a $3 million investment for safe isolation centres
  • Further investments in sustainable transportation
  • Investing further in vulnerable citizens through shelters, long term care
  • For a minimal tax increase, we will continue to deliver world class essential services, deal with impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and invest strategically
What are the strategic investment areas?
 
  • These strategic investment areas were identified through community feedback in the summer of 2020, as well as an acknowledgement that the weight of the pandemic has fallen harder on some, more than others
  • Strategic investments provide support to:
    • Local businesses and the local workforce
      • $3 million over two years
    • Our most vulnerable through additional investments to fund a transformational affordable housing plan
      • $20 million over two years
    • Addressing inequities in our community
      • $15 million over two years
    • An aggressive plan to modernize and streamline Regional service provision to stimulate savings for residents
      • $3 million over two years
What is the average tax increase for a household?
 
  • We recognize that an “average household” does not exist in any community and for a variety of reasons, tax increases to residents will vary throughout Waterloo Region
  • A more accurate approach is to speak about the “average increase”, which is $3 per $100,000 of residential assessment
How has community feedback been reflected in Council’s plan, and the accompanying budget?
  • The plan for beyond COVID-19 and the accompanying 2021 budget has been significantly shaped by community feedback as it is rooted in the Region’s Strategic Plan.
  • Feedback from over 12,400 residents helped bring this plan to life.
  • In response to the current global pandemic, the Region of Waterloo further engaged the community to help determine current and future priorities in the context of COVID-19.
  • Three methods were initially implemented to scan our community for feedback and help understand our residents’ priorities:
    • Waterloo Matters Survey, which was conducted by the University of Waterloo in June 2020 with a sample size of 250 to 300 residents 
    • An Interactive Voice Response public telephone poll in July 2020, which was conducted by Conestoga College with a sample size of 800 residents
    • Four separate Wellbeing Waterloo Region focus groups and accompanying survey in August 2020
  • The most important social concerns that need to be addressed for Waterloo Region were identified as:
    • Affordable housing and homelessness
    • Unemployment
    • Mental health
  • This tailored feedback allowed Regional Council and staff identify areas for strategic investment
 
 How has the Region responded to the pandemic?
 
  • The Region of Waterloo has been diligent financially, and has been nimble as an organization.
  • We have reacted in real time to a very challenging situation, however, we are still in unprecedented times.
  • We continue to prioritize Council’s vision for our community, but we also recognize the need to lead the community through the pandemic.
  • As the Region has led the community through the pandemic, it has also worked on a plan for beyond COVID-19.
  • That plan has become a reality with the approval of the 2021 budget.
  • Our plan and accompanying budget aims to ensure that we are in a strong position as we move closer to emerging from the pandemic.
  • Our plan also ensures we continue to provide critical, world-class services to our 630,000 residents.
 What essential services are provided by the Region?
 
  • The Region of Waterloo provides a number of critical services to all of our 630,000 residents.
  • These include:
    • Public health and ambulance services
    • Housing, seniors’ services, child care system management, and income support
    • Safe drinking water, public transit, waste management and regional roads
    • Cultural sites, libraries and the Waterloo Region International Airport

Budget feedback: tell us what Regional services you value

Every year at budget time, Regional Council likes to hear from citizens on whether the Region's services are meeting community needs.

The Region welcomes feedback from residents on the budget. Community members can share ideas by attending a public meeting or online through Engage Region of Waterloo. This year's public input process is complete. Check back in fall 2021 for feedback opportunities for next year's budget. 

Have questions about Regional services and how the budget works? Watch the video below to see how we invest in the future.

November 25, 2020 - Detailed Budget Review (Day 1)

Agenda

2021 Preliminary Budget - User Rates  

GRCA Presentation - 2021 Draft Budget 

Staff Presentation - 2021 Plan Overview 

Webcast

Minutes

December 16, 2020 - Detailed Budget Review (Day 2)

Agenda

Minutes

2021 Preliminary Tax Supported Program Budget & 2021-2030 Capital Budget Summaries 

Staff Presentation - 2021 Tax Supported Budget

Webcast 

December 16, 2020 - Public Input Session 

Agenda

Minutes

Webcast 

January 12, 2021 - Detailed Budget Review (Day 3)

Agenda 

Minutes 

Waterloo Regional Police - 2021 Proposed Budget

Waterloo Regional Tax Supported - 2021 Proposed Budget 

Webcast 

January 20, 2021  - Final Budget Approval 

Agenda 

Minutes 

Staff Presentation - 2021 Tax Supported Budget

Webcast 

If you want to register as a delegation to any of the public input sessions for the Regional budget, contact the Regional Clerk's Office at 519-575-4400. More information about public input meetings is available on our Public Notices page. For more information on the budget process, or if you have specific budget questions, contact: Budgets@regionofwaterloo.ca 

2021 Budget 

2021 Preliminary Tax Supported Program Budget & 2021-2030 Capital Budget Summaries 

2021 Preliminary Budget - User Rates 

2020 Budget 

The Region's annual budget process was completed and approved by Council on January 22, 2020. 

2020 Final Budget Book

2020 Final Budget Issue Papers

2019 Budget 

The Region's annual budget process was completed and approved by Council on February 19, 2019. 

2019 Final Program Budget Book

2019 Final Budget Issue Papers

2018 Budget 

The Region's annual budget process was completed and approved by council on December 13, 2017. 

Final 2018 Program Budget Book

Final 2018 Budget Issue Papers

Financial Statements

2019

2018

2017

 

 

 

Subscribe to this Page

Contact Us

ROW logo

City of Cambridge

City of Kitchener

City of Waterloo

Township of North Dumfries

Township of Wellesley

Township of Wilmot

Township of Woolwich

© 2021 Region of Waterloo, 150 Frederick St., Kitchener, Ontario N2G 4J3, Telephone: 519-575-4400,  Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TTY): 519-575-4608, Fax: 519-575-4481, Email Us

AccessibilityContact UsWebsite FeedbackPrivacy StatementTerms of UseSitemapCareers and Volunteering
Designed by eSolutionsGroup

I Want To...

Report or Request

  • By-law concern
  • Concern with construction and road closure
  • Concern with signs and signals
  • Found a needle
  • Immunization records
  • Make a complaint
  • Make a complaint, compliment or feedback about transit
  • Report a waste collection issue
  • More...
  • View All..

Apply or Register

  • Affordable Housing
  • Help for a child with special needs in child care
  • Help to pay for child care
  • Home Child Care
  • Ontario Works
  • Permit or license
  • Volunteer
  • More...

Pay

  • For garbage tags
  • My water bill
  • My invoice
  • My Provincial offence or traffic ticket
  • More...

Talk to Us

  • Communicate with Council
  • Contact Us
  • Find information about community services
  • Provide input on Regional issues
  • Rate our services
  • Subscribe to news and alerts
  • More...

Search Results

Search Results: