In an effort to improve transparency, the City of Windsor has committed to including several more items in the public budget documents.
The move comes after pressure from a group called Engage Windsor that requested the Ontario Ombudsman review the city's decision to withhold 54 items from the public document.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens requested a review of the in-camera items and the city has now published a list of budget decisions that will become a part of the public discussions.
"I believe in transparency, and with permitting as much of the proposed budget to be made public as is responsible and legally possible. I appreciate the time and effort that City staff have put into preparing these complex documents once again this year, and the extra effort that has gone into this thorough review of the in-camera items. With a 0% budget proposed for 2026, it is understandable that City staff exercised an abundance of caution when it comes to sensitive discussions around items like labour relations, security, contract negotiations, and more. I have no concerns with the items presented in this budget and stand by the path to 0% that has been identified," said Dilkens.
The list includes changes to the staff compliment in Housing & Children’s Services and Public Works, the reduction of several vacant positions, and a reduction in the seasonal staff compliment.
“Out of an abundance of caution, a number of items were included in the in-camera portion of the 2026 proposed budget, which are now moving to the public document. Our work to protect sensitive information, including information that might cause unnecessary alarm or distress to potentially impacted staff, and to provide the Mayor and Council with details to often complex issues was never intended to remove transparency from the budget process," said Janice Guthrie, City Treasurer, Commissioner of Finance.
Public budget documents will be updated on the City of Windsor's website by noon on Wednesday.
"People deserve to know, not only how their tax dollars are being spent but also where it is that they're going and where they are being diverted if vital services like public transit or like children and housing services are being eliminated," said Joshua Sankarlal, co-chair of Engage Windsor.
There are still several items that will not be disclosed as part of the public budget documents. The City of Windsor states these include items related to areas such as Security of the Property, Disposition of Property, Labour Relations, Contract Negotiations, Solicitor-Client Privilege, and Position-Plan-Procedure.
Windsor City Council will hear from members of the public on the budget at the January 12 council meeting. Council will meet to deliberate on the budget on January 26, 2026.
