When Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens meets with reporters at noon on Monday, he'll release the spending plan for the year ahead.
City councillors got their first look at the 2024 budget on Friday but were barred from publicly speaking about the details until after Monday's noon news conference.
Instead, Ward 9's Kieran McKenzie agreed to speak with WindsorNewsToday.ca about the process, considering deliberations this year are the first since strong mayor powers were introduced in the city.
In the past, administrative staff put together the document and recommended it to city councillors. Councillors then voted as a collective on amendments. Once the amendments were approved or dismissed, they approved the entire document.
This time, the budget will come from the Mayor's Office. Dilkens will present the budget to councillors who can recommend changes. Dilkens will have the power to adopt those amendments or veto them.
"The Mayor will produce this budget. Council has 30 days to review the budget. We'll make our own recommendations as a group," said McKenzie. "At that point, the mayor will then have the opportunity to either support that budget that council produces or veto it."
Another change this year will impact the public more directly. The council will hear from delegations on a separate day from deliberations.
McKenzie hopes it leads to more thoughtful decision-making.
"The budget deliberation, traditionally, happened over many, many hours in one sitting," McKenzie explained. "We decided to break up the process to make sure council is in the best position to make the best decisions."
Following the public session, councillors will meet again to deliberate, but Dilkens has said he hopes to get the council's approval in early February.
On Monday, residents will find out the proposed property tax increase and what, if any, services are sacrificed to balance the city's finances.
Last year, councillors adopted a budget with a 4.48 per cent residential property tax levy, which they trimmed from the initial 5.23 per cent in the draft budget.
