City Launches Budget Simulator and Tax Receipt Generator

Today, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens was joined by City of Windsor Deputy Treasurer Tony Ardovini and Manager of Strategic Operating Budget Development & Control Dave Soave to launch two new public engagement tools designed to help residents understand how their tax dollars are spent and to provide feedback in advance of the City’s 2022 budget process.

The Budget Balancing Simulation allows residents to adjust the City of Windsor’s 2021 Approved Property Tax Funded Operating Budget by increasing, decreasing, or maintaining spending for various City services, including police, fire and emergency, infrastructure, payments to school boards, capital projects and reserves, human and health services, community services, general corporate support, and economic development and innovation. Once users make their adjustments, a coloured pie chart is updated to reflect the percentage of spending on each service. Users are able to adjust each service to a maximum of approximately 10 percent. 

The Tax Receipt Generator allows residents to input their 2021 municipal property taxes and generate an estimated tax receipt that shows a breakdown of how their tax dollars are spent. This receipt can be downloaded and shared via the online portal; however, it is not an official tax receipt.

Residents can access both the Budget Balancing Simulation and Tax Receipt Generator until Friday, November 12, at CityWindsor.ca.

Rollout of these tools comes in the midst of the 2021 virtual ward meetings, where residents have the opportunity to receive updates on key city initiatives from ward councillors, along with the chance to ask questions and provide feedback from the comfort of home. Ward meetings continue to November 17, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Scheduled meeting dates and participation details are available online or by calling 311.

The City’s ten-year capital plan is investing $1.6 billion in local infrastructure, with more than $170 million for roads, sidewalks, streetlights and more; $50.5 million for sewer and flood prevention; $17.5 million in spending on parks, playgrounds, and trails; and over $21.1 million in subsidy to Transit Windsor for new routes and enhanced cleaning.

“These new engagement tools help keep residents informed and educated on where their property taxes are being spent,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. “As we plan for the 2022 budget deliberations later this fall, this is also an excellent opportunity for residents to let council know what their spending priorities are while experiencing the careful considerations that go into ensuring our budget remains balanced.”

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Today, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens was joined by City of Windsor Deputy Treasurer Tony Ardovini and Manager of Strategic Operating Budget Development & Control Dave Soave to launch two new public engagement tools designed to help residents understand how their tax dollars are spent and to provide feedback in advance of the City’s 2022 budget process.

The Budget Balancing Simulation allows residents to adjust the City of Windsor’s 2021 Approved Property Tax Funded Operating Budget by increasing, decreasing, or maintaining spending for various City services, including police, fire and emergency, infrastructure, payments to school boards, capital projects and reserves, human and health services, community services, general corporate support, and economic development and innovation. Once users make their adjustments, a coloured pie chart is updated to reflect the percentage of spending on each service. Users are able to adjust each service to a maximum of approximately 10 percent. 

The Tax Receipt Generator allows residents to input their 2021 municipal property taxes and generate an estimated tax receipt that shows a breakdown of how their tax dollars are spent. This receipt can be downloaded and shared via the online portal; however, it is not an official tax receipt.

Residents can access both the Budget Balancing Simulation and Tax Receipt Generator until Friday, November 12, at CityWindsor.ca.

The rollout of these tools comes in the midst of the 2021 virtual ward meetings, where residents have the opportunity to receive updates on key city initiatives from ward councillors, along with the chance to ask questions and provide feedback from the comfort of home. Ward meetings continue to November 17, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Scheduled meeting dates and participation details are available online or by calling 311.

The City’s ten-year capital plan is investing $1.6 billion in local infrastructure, with more than $170 million for roads, sidewalks, streetlights and more; $50.5 million for sewer and flood prevention; $17.5 million in spending on parks, playgrounds, and trails; and over $21.1 million in subsidy to Transit Windsor for new routes and enhanced cleaning.

“These new engagement tools help keep residents informed and educated on where their property taxes are being spent,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. “As we plan for the 2022 budget deliberations later this fall, this is also an excellent opportunity for residents to let council know what their spending priorities are while experiencing the careful considerations that go into ensuring our budget remains balanced.”

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