Financial stability, digital transformation and continuous improvement key focuses of City Manager’s Office and Corporate Services 2020 departmental preliminary tax operating budgets

HAMILTON, ON - With an emphasis on taxpayer value for money, continuous improvement, financial stability and digital transformation, the City Manager’s Office and Corporate Services Department presented their 2020 tax operating budgets today to Hamilton City Council’s General Issues Committee. Staff provided a summary of 2019 accomplishments, measurements of success, and a look ahead to 2020 and beyond.

The City Manager’s Office, which is made up of the corporation’s administrative, human resources, strategic partnerships, communications, digital office and audit functions, City Manager, Janette Smith, conveyed key focuses for the department for 2020. They include improved functionality and user experiences of City digital channels, a focus on a healthy, respectful and supportive workplace, the implementation of a public engagement tool to better connect with residents, establishment of the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) independent board, and the review of the Our City Survey results, the City’s resident satisfaction survey, to identify improvements in city services.

Overall, the City Manager’s Office is requesting a total increase of $319,700, or 2.7% from 2019.

City Manager’s Office Quick Facts for 2019:

• Launch of a 24/7 Fraud and Waste Hotline, with 66 reports assessed in 2019.
• Ongoing enhancements and improvements to the Open Data Portal – Open Hamilton.
• Realized over $1 million in new revenues through strategic partnerships and sponsorships.
• The City Enrichment Fund allocated funds to 279 community programs, totaling of $6.22 million.
• Coordination of the Our Future Hamilton Summit, “Preparing Today for the Jobs of Tomorrow”, with results being used to inform the City’s new 5-year Economic Development Strategy.

For the Corporate Services Department, comprised of Financial Planning, Administration and Policy, Customer Service and Provincial Offences Administration, Information Technology, Legal and Risk Management Services, and City Clerk’s Office General Manager, Mike Zegarac, outlined a number of initiatives the Department plans to carry out in 2020. They include continued implementation of the Information Technology Strategy, automation of employee mileage and expense reports, support for new legislation through proactive policy reviews, introduction of enhancements to report workflow, the continued expansion of Customer Service Strategy, and the enhancement of the City’s short and long-term financial plans, inclusive of enhanced performance reporting.

Overall, the Corporate Services Department is requesting a total budget increase of $439,110 or 1.4% from 2019.

Corporate Services Quick Facts for 2019:

• AA+ Credit Rating & Stable Outlook from S&P Global Ratings for the third year in a row
• Adoption of a new Development Charges By-Law to support continued economic growth
• Continued implementation of the IT Strategy that will capitalize on investment and enhance operational efficiencies
• Comprehensive Provincial policy review to support long-term financial planning
• Enhanced budget communication through citizen-facing budget videos and performance indicators
• Issued 2,299 marriage licenses
• Responded to 604,916 resident enquiries through the City’s Customer Contact Centre (546-CITY).
• 44.5% of taxpayers enrolled in the City’s Pre-authorized Payment Plan for Property Taxes
• Implementation of a Routine Disclosure and Active Dissemination Policy to further enhance the City’s open and transparent government commitment
• $181 million in avoided costs through the successful defence of legal claims

Council is expected to consider final approval of the City’s overall tax operating budget by early April. Learn more about the 2020 budget.

Additional resources

www.hamilton.ca/Budget2020