December 15, 2023 – In a swift 51-minute meeting on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, the City of Brampton’s Council not only greenlit the 2024 budget but also took time to bid farewell to retiring City Clerk Peter Fay.
Brampton City Clerk Peter Fay Retires
The meeting kicked off with a heartwarming tribute to Fay, who served the city for 17 years. Mayor Patrick Brown and Deputy Mayor’s office collaborated to create a tribute video featuring retired Montreal Canadiens players Brian Skrudland and Guy Carbonneau who wish Fay well in his retirement. A framed Canadiens jersey was presented to Fay, sparking laughter from the Mayor about the challenge of creating the tribute as most of the Council – including himself – are die-hard Toronto Maple Leafs fans. Councillors shared fond memories, highlighting Fay’s welcoming nature to new members.
Commercial Break for Council
There was another 15-minute break in the meeting to watch the press conference by the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Paul Calandra, who announced the reversal of the Region of Peel’s dissolution. This led to even more smiles within the council chambers.
In Record Time
Following the press conference, the budget session resumed, and after a few quick procedural motions, the 2024 Brampton budget was approved and the meeting was over clocking in at a mere 51 minutes.
The brevity wasn’t due to haste but rather what seemed like unanimous contentment with Mayor Brown’s first presented budget with the new strong Mayor powers. The meeting saw no questions from the public nor any major amendments from Councillors. Unlike the lengthy budget discussions that are typically many hours in most municipalities, the Brampton team swiftly addressed the matter in just minutes.
Highlights of the 2024 Budget include:
- A tax increase of 1.9%, below Canada’s inflation rate, and the lowest increase in the GTA.
- The City’s largest-ever annual contribution to reserves, totaling $139 million.
- An operating budget of $913 million and a capital budget of $544 million, reaching a total of $1.5 billion.
- Focus on healthcare, with $74 million in reserves for a new hospital and cancer care center support.
- Investments in transit, recreation, and environmental initiatives, building the Brampton advantage.
Shaped by community input through town halls, business roundtables, and Ward Councillor coffee chats, the 2024 budget is being touted as one of the most citizen driven documents the city has produced.
After such a quick meeting that included many smiles, Mayor Patrick Brown expressed gratitude to Council colleagues, city staff, and Brampton taxpayers for their input in developing a budget “for jobs, for families, for recreation, for transit, for health care, and for community safety.”
To view the entire 2024 Budget, visit www.Brampton.ca/budget.
