At Hamilton City Council’s latest budget meeting last Friday, a number of amendments were brought forward to Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath’s budget, which was released on Jan. 23 and included a residential property tax increase of 4.25 per cent.
Since that meeting, Horwath said that the ice at Stoney Creek Arena will not be decommissioned, meaning that the $161,000 in savings that would have been realized will have to be added back to the budget.
A number of other motions were brought forward on Friday, some of which included increasing spending over what was proposed by Horwath.
It should be noted that all results will still have to be ratified by Council at a special meeting on Feb. 19 and, even then, Horwath will have an opportunity to veto each decision.
Mayoral vetoes can only be overturned by a two-thirds majority at Council.
MOTION 9.1 – CONTINGENCY ALLOCATIONS
The first motion was brought forward by Councillor Mark Tadeson (Ward 11 – Glanbrook-Binbrook-Mount Hope) and would see contingency allocations for 2026 Public Works Tax Levy Funded Capital Projects reduced, thereby reducing the 2026 Tax Capital Levy by $593,000.
Contingency allowances for capital projects are used to manage delivery risk and cost uncertainty, but Tadeson worked with staff to determine that reductions to those contingencies are “feasible.”
The motion passed 16-0.
MOTION 9.2 – EXTENSION OF NON-RESIDENTIAL BLUE BOX COLLECTION
The next motion, brought forward by Councillor Cameron Kroetsch (Ward 2 – Downtown Hamilton), would see the city continue blue box collection services for non-residential property types, such as small businesses, until December 31, 2026, at an estimated cost of about $2.1 million funded by the Tax Stabilization Reserve.
Using reserves means that the motion has no impact on this year’s tax levy.
With the Government of Ontario’s changes to the province’s recycling program, which now only covers residential properties, the city’s 2,500 commercial properties have been left without recycling collection.
Kroetsch said that continuing to provide recycling to commercial properties at the municipal level will give them more time to secure private collection and work together to get more favourable pricing.
The motion passed 14-1, with Councillor Brad Clark (Ward 9 – Upper Stoney Creek) voting against, saying that the issue is the province’s responsibility.
MOTION 9.3 – INCREASE TO HAMILTON PUBLIC LIBRARY BUDGET
Kroetsch also brought forward a motion to increase the tax levy by an additional $373,050 to add to the Hamilton Public Library budget to help with costs such as increased security.
According to Horwath’s Mayoral Directive, the Library Board has to cap their tax levy budget increase at 4.25 per cent, which they could do by dipping into reserves.
Kroetsch argued that the library should be permitted to submit a budget with a 5.25 per cent increase so that they do not have to dip into their limited reserves.
That motion passed 9-7, but Horwath voted against. It is unclear if she will eventually use her mayoral veto to reverse the decision.
In Favour (9): Maureen Wilson (Ward 1 – Chedoke-Cootes-Westdale), Cameron Kroetsch (Ward 2 – Downtown Hamilton), Nrinder Nann (Ward 3 – East Hamilton Centre), Tammy Hwang (Ward 4 – Hamilton East), Matt Francis (Ward 5 – Hamilton East-Stoney Creek), Tom Jackson (Ward 6 – East Mountain), Craig Cassar (Ward 12 – Ancaster-West Flamborough), Alex Wilson (Ward 13 – Dundas-Central Flamborough), Ted McMeekin (Ward 15 – East Flamborough-Waterdown)
Against (7): Esther Pauls (Ward 7 – Central Mountain), Rob Cooper (Ward 8 – West/Central Mountain), Brad Clark (Ward 9 – Upper Stoney Creek), Jeff Beattie (Ward 10 – Stoney Creek-Fruitland-Winona), Mark Tadeson (Ward 11 – Glanbrook-Binbrook-Mount Hope), Mike Spadafora (Ward 14 – West Mountain), Mayor Andrea Horwath
MOTION 9.4 – INCREASE TO HAMILTON FARMERS’ MARKET BUDGET
Kroetsch brought forward another motion to add $25,000 to the levy for the Hamilton Farmers’ Market since costs for additional security were not previously available.
The motion passed 15-1.
MOTION 9.5 – DEFERRAL OF BIKE FACILITIES CROSSING RED HILL VALLEY PARKWAY
Councillor Matt Francis (Ward 5 – Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) brought forward a motion to have the tax levy reduced by $706,580 since a plan for bike facilities on King Street across the Red Hill Valley Parkway will not take place until 2027.
He said that spending on that project should be deferred to next year and coincide with planned road resurfacing so that work is not duplicated.
The motion passed 16-0.
MOTION 9.6 – GRASS CUTTING MITIGATION MEASURES
Horwath’s Mayoral Budget brought forward $105,000 in savings by reducing grass cutting on city land during off-peak growing periods and $250,000 in savings by eliminating grass cutting on private property, such as urban right-of-ways and boulevards.
Councillor Tom Jackson (Ward 6 – East Mountain) brought forward a motion to add both amounts back to the tax levy. The motion was ultimately deferred until the Feb. 13 meeting.
MOTION 9.7 – INCREASE TO CITY ENRICHMENT FUND
Councillor Kroetsch also brought forward a motion to increase the tax levy for the City Enrichment Fund by $541,562 , which was previously planned by Council.
In Horwath’s Mayoral Budget, the fund, which provides grants for local not-for-profits, was set to stay at 2025 levels ($6,769,531).
The motion failed 3-13. Councillors Kroetsch, Nann, and Alex Wilson were the only ones in favour.
ADDITIONAL MOTION – FREE COUNCIL MEALS
Councillor Clark brought forward a motion to have the tax levy reduced by $25,780 to cease providing free meals to elected members and senior leadership as part of some Council meetings.
That motion was deferred until Feb. 13 on a 13-3 vote, with Council deciding that they need more information since an argument was made that ending the program could mean that longer breaks have to be provided.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
