2023 Operating and Capital Budget

Thank you to everyone who submitted their feedback during the Phase 2 Public Engagement survey.

To view the results, click here.

Residents are encouraged to visit Engage Cobourg to submit additional comments for Council’s Consideration

Cobourg, ON (January 27, 2023) – The Town of Cobourg would like to advise all residents that the draft 2023 Operating and Capital Budgets are now available on the municipal website, www.cobourg.ca

This week, Cobourg Municipal Council commenced budget deliberations for the 2023 budget. On Monday, January 23, Council heard presentations from members of the public for the Municipal Community Grant Program. During this meeting, Council also received an overview of the Phase One 2023 Budget Community Engagement research. Insights from the community included the programs and services that are most valued, the level of satisfaction in service delivery and the issues residents feel are most important for our community at this time.

On Wednesday January 25 and Thursday, January 26, Town of Cobourg staff presented the 2023 Draft Budget Overview Presentations. During this meeting, staff presented council with a summary of budget recommendations, including operating and capital budget highlights, key budget drivers, operating and capital budget increases and reasonings as well as special projects for the 2023 year. For those who were unable to attend the meeting in person, recordings can be found on the Town of Cobourg eScribe website as well as a copy of the Draft Budget Overview Presentations can be found on the municipal website www.cobourg.ca

The draft 2023 Operating and Capital Budgets have now been released and are available for the community to review. Council will meet again on February 7, 2023 to review the draft budget in it’s entirety with final budget approval scheduled for February 27, 2023.

Phase 2 Community Engagement: Feedback on the Draft 2023 Budget
The Town of Cobourg is once again seeking feedback from the community on the 2023 draft budget. The Phase 2 Community Engagement survey asks residents to provide feedback on the budget process, including communication and education as well as the direction of the draft capital and operating budgets. Data collected from the Phase 2 community engagement will be presented to Council at the February 21, Committee of the Whole meeting.

In addition to the Engage Cobourg survey residents are invited to submit a delegation at any of the upcoming Council Meetings. To submit a delegation, please visit www.cobourg.ca/escribe , select the meeting you would like to attend and click on the delegation request form.

Budget Updates
Please follow updates on Engage Cobourg and visit the Town of Cobourg's dedicated 2023 Budget webpage to learn more about how the Town of Cobourg determines its annual budget.

Register on Engage Cobourg Today!
Residents of the Town of Cobourg are encouraged to create a profile online and participate in current public engagement projects. To register on Engage Cobourg, an online public engagement platform designed to gather feedback and comments from residents, visit engagecobourg.ca and click the Register Today! button. For questions or help registering please email communications@cobourg.ca.

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Media Contacts
Kara Euale
Manager, Communications
Town of Cobourg
p: 905-372-4301 x 4105
e: keuale@cobourg.ca

About The Town of Cobourg
The Town of Cobourg is a lakeside community (population 20,500) located on the north shore of Lake Ontario halfway between Toronto and Kingston and has been recognized multiple times by MoneySense Magazine as “One of Canada’s Best Places to Live” in populations under 25,000.

Founded in 1798, Cobourg is rich in heritage offering a vibrant downtown, sophisticated small-town atmosphere and renowned waterfront that serves as a popular getaway destination. As the largest town in Northumberland County, Cobourg is personified by historic Victoria Hall, a 143,000 sq. ft. multiple purpose community centre, an educated and skilled labour force, flourishing commercial sector and supportive municipal government. Cobourg has received the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Sustainable Communities Award, accolades from the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance, and multiple heritage, environmental, and event awards.

Divisional Budget Meeting to Begin At New Time on Thursday, January 26
Earlier time scheduled to complete Wednesday’s Agenda Items

Cobourg, ON (January 25, 2023) – The Town of Cobourg would like to advise all residents that the Division Budget Meeting #2, scheduled for Thursday, January 26 will begin at an earlier time of 11am.

Due to the inclement weather experienced this evening, and additional time required to complete today’s Budget Meeting Agenda, Council moved to adjourn todays meeting to ensure safe travels for all persons in attendance. To provide enough time to complete the remainder of today’s agenda as well as the day two agenda items, the Divisional Budget Meeting #2, scheduled for Thursday, January 26 will begin at a new time of 11am. The agenda will begin with the presentation of the Public Works draft budget presentation.

For further information on the 2023 Municipal Operating and Capital Budget please visit www.cobourg.ca/budget2023.

Thank you to everyone who submitted their feedback during the Phase1 Public Engagement survey.

To view the results, click here.

Detailed 2023 Budget Schedule Available for Public Review and Input

Cobourg, ON (January 10, 2023) – The Town of Cobourg would like to inform residents that the 2023 Municipal Operating and Capital Budget meetings will begin Monday, January 23. All meetings will be open to the public and will be recorded live via the Town of Cobourg eScribe website.

At the January 9, Committee of the Whole meeting, Cobourg Council received a verbal update from the Treasurer/Director of Corporate Services, regarding the revised 2023 Operating and Capital Budget Meeting Schedule. “Deputy Mayor Beatty and I have spent the past week meeting with Directors to review their budget recommendations for 2023,” says Mayor, Lucas Cleveland. “Additional time is required to further assess the budget and receive information from departments before a draft can be presented to Council.” Council has approved an amendment to the Operating and Capital Budget Meeting schedule, providing staff with additional time to refine department budget recommendations. A detailed outline of the budget meeting schedule can be found in the chart below.

The draft 2023 Municipal Operating and Capital Budget will be released on the Town of Cobourg’s municipal website at www.cobourg.ca/budget2023 and on Engage Cobourg for public review and comment.

Community Invited to Submit Comments on the 2023 Budget:

Residents are encouraged to provide input on the budget by submitting a delegation to Council in advance of the Public Submissions meeting on January 23, 2023. Delegation requests can be made online by visiting the Town of Cobourg’s eSCRIBE platform: www.cobourg.ca/escribe, clicking on the meeting date and hitting ‘Delegation request’.

Delegation requests are due by January 19, 2023.

Engage Cobourg Phase 1 Preliminary Engagement Findings:

In December, the Town of Cobourg sought community input in preparation of the 2023 budget. A survey was circulated to identify budget priorities for the coming year. Staff will present survey findings to Council on January 25, prior to the divisional budget staff presentation meetings.

For further information on the 2023 Municipal Operating and Capital Budget please visit www.cobourg.ca/budget2023.