Joelle Kovach
@joellekovach.bsky.social
City hall reporter for The Peterborough Examiner (in Peterborough, Ontario).
Thanks for joining me - these budget talks are adjourned!
November 18, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Thanks for joining me - these budget talks are adjourned!
He's even thanking citizen Roy Brady for being here for the entire budget deliberations period. Councillors applaud.
November 18, 2025 at 8:57 PM
He's even thanking citizen Roy Brady for being here for the entire budget deliberations period. Councillors applaud.
He's thanking everyone on staff now - treasurer, staff, etc., even the media for covering budget. Nice of us to be here "the full day, to cover all decisions."
November 18, 2025 at 8:57 PM
He's thanking everyone on staff now - treasurer, staff, etc., even the media for covering budget. Nice of us to be here "the full day, to cover all decisions."
He's saying city councillors work particularly hard at budget time to keep in mind the taxpayer's ability to pay, while also advancing the city.
November 18, 2025 at 8:57 PM
He's saying city councillors work particularly hard at budget time to keep in mind the taxpayer's ability to pay, while also advancing the city.
And in 2018, a $66M new police station was not made - they "kicked the can" down to future years, and it leaves us in this difficult financial spot, Leal says.
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
And in 2018, a $66M new police station was not made - they "kicked the can" down to future years, and it leaves us in this difficult financial spot, Leal says.
With policing, Leal says, over a decade "consistently decisions were made" to not leave them with their full surpluses (they were often asked to return half their surpluses to the city).
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
With policing, Leal says, over a decade "consistently decisions were made" to not leave them with their full surpluses (they were often asked to return half their surpluses to the city).
Leal says there are "fundamental problems" with the budget structure, and that rethinking service delivery models will need to be made. This reserve fund "is a stop-gap measure, and that the "tough sledding" happens in 2027.
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Leal says there are "fundamental problems" with the budget structure, and that rethinking service delivery models will need to be made. This reserve fund "is a stop-gap measure, and that the "tough sledding" happens in 2027.
Mayor Leal is thanking Freymond and his team for coming up with this budget. "Yes, this is very supportable to reduce the tax rate to 6.38%... But, in 2027 that's when the real decisions are going to have to be made."
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Mayor Leal is thanking Freymond and his team for coming up with this budget. "Yes, this is very supportable to reduce the tax rate to 6.38%... But, in 2027 that's when the real decisions are going to have to be made."
"I am fully in support of this motion," says @joylachica.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
"I am fully in support of this motion," says @joylachica.bsky.social
@joylachica.bsky.social: "Just finding this for us is good news."
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
@joylachica.bsky.social: "Just finding this for us is good news."
Riel supports it too. He says he asked Freymond about potential money from reserves and this is something he wanted to see.
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Riel supports it too. He says he asked Freymond about potential money from reserves and this is something he wanted to see.
Beamer says the use of $3M from this reserve would decrease the tax increase by 1.32%... That would leave us ratepayers facing an increase of 6.56% for 2026.
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Beamer says the use of $3M from this reserve would decrease the tax increase by 1.32%... That would leave us ratepayers facing an increase of 6.56% for 2026.
@lesleyparnell.bsky.social says this is for one year only - not as an ongoing solution.
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
@lesleyparnell.bsky.social says this is for one year only - not as an ongoing solution.
@lesleyparnell.bsky.social says she would prefer to see this money go to capital projects, "as is our policy." But the investment "has paid off" - they made more interest than expected - and they can use it "to give taxpayers a bit of relief."
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
@lesleyparnell.bsky.social says she would prefer to see this money go to capital projects, "as is our policy." But the investment "has paid off" - they made more interest than expected - and they can use it "to give taxpayers a bit of relief."
Haacke says both staff and council looked hard at the budget for savings and found none - yet he doesn't want to see a 7 or 8% tax increase in 2026: "This brings us down to the mid-sixes."
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Haacke says both staff and council looked hard at the budget for savings and found none - yet he doesn't want to see a 7 or 8% tax increase in 2026: "This brings us down to the mid-sixes."
Haacke notes the return on this investment has been higher than expected - comes in handy, he says, as cost pressures mount.
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Haacke notes the return on this investment has been higher than expected - comes in handy, he says, as cost pressures mount.
Haacke says he would move to take $3M from this legacy income reserve to reduce the tax increase for 2026.
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Haacke says he would move to take $3M from this legacy income reserve to reduce the tax increase for 2026.
He cannot make a recommendation as treasurer, but he can point out one area where there is money.
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
He cannot make a recommendation as treasurer, but he can point out one area where there is money.
The legacy income reserve - which is the income from investing the proceeds from the sale of Peterborough Distribution Inc. - is one place where they could find money. The return on this fund "has exceeded expectations - it's done very well," Freymond says, and so there's $3M there.
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The legacy income reserve - which is the income from investing the proceeds from the sale of Peterborough Distribution Inc. - is one place where they could find money. The return on this fund "has exceeded expectations - it's done very well," Freymond says, and so there's $3M there.
Freymond is expounding now on areas of the budget where council could draw on reserves.
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Freymond is expounding now on areas of the budget where council could draw on reserves.
"We've had a good conversation - we're moving on," says Coun. Beamer (he's chairing).
November 18, 2025 at 7:50 PM
"We've had a good conversation - we're moving on," says Coun. Beamer (he's chairing).