- Provides 24/7 emergency response with over 6,000 calls annually related to fire suppression, tiered medical services, hazardous material and marine response
- Provides emergency dispatch services, receiving 77,000 calls per year
- Provides public education programs, fire safety inspections, fire investigations and code enforcement programs to reduce community risk
- Maintains 32 fire response vehicles
Budgets and Finances
The City's budgets are strategic documents that support municipal service delivery and the achievement of Council's strategic priorities. Unlike provincial and federal government levels, municipalities are not allowed to budget for deficits. This means we must balance our annual budgets so that money coming in equals money going out. This challenges us to find cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable solutions to funding our capital and operating expenses.
Based on a variety of community engagement and other resident input, Council establishes the City’s strategic priorities and service levels. Departmental work plans and supporting budgets are developed to achieve these initiatives and to support the ongoing operation of City facilities, services, and programs.
With the municipal election scheduled for later this fall, the process to update the Council Strategic Plan is expected to begin in early 2027.
Find budget and financial statement documents from 2021 to the present.
Our budgets
Under the Strong Mayor Powers legislation, the budget is proposed by the Mayor and provided to Council for their consideration, in accordance with Section 284.16 of the Municipal Act, 2001.
The Mayor’s proposed 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets included:
- A municipal operating budget of $530.4 million
- A 3.75% tax increase, which is comprised of a municipal tax rate increase of 1.35%, 1% for capital purposes, and 1.4% for external agencies
- A municipal capital budget of $135.8 million, including increased investment in: Transportation and related infrastructure of $75 million, and affordable and supportive housing of $10 million
Council amended the proposed municipal operating budget by allocating $100,000 for arts-related work, funded from the Working Fund Reserve.
In accordance with the Mayor's direction, Kingston's 2026 property tax increase remains among the lowest of other larger cities in Ontario.
Review the 2026 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets to learn more.
Your tax dollars at work
Municipal services
Review the sections below to see how the City puts your tax dollars to work.
- Delivers housing and social programs that support individuals and families, including affordable housing, homelessness services, emergency shelters, and child care programs
- Provides funding to 14 non-profit housing providers and private landlords to ensure the availability of 1,900 rent-geared-to-income units
- Provides 6 emergency shelters to individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by coordinating housing, shelter, prevention, and support services through a coordinated access approach
- Manages and facilitates access to Early Years and Child Care services including funding and operational supports to 35 non-profit child care providers across 72 locations
- Advances strategies and partnerships to improve housing affordability, address homelessness, and promote social well-being, including the creation of 58 affordable housing units and 59 transitional housing spaces in 2025, with an additional 121 units/spaces under development
- Provides single-occupancy rooms for 170 residents with 24-hour nursing, personal care and comprehensive support services
- Delivers more than 40 recreational and cultural programs and events to the community
- Operates 2 community centres, 4 arenas with 8 ice pads, 2 pools and 2 marinas
- Maintains 44 baseball diamonds, 55 soccer pitches, 27 tennis courts, 37 basketball courts, 25 pickleball courts
- Maintains 190 parks and 65 km of trails
- Manages 2 municipal museums, the Grand Theatre and Slush Puppie Place
- Coordinates City events, including Victoria and Canada Day celebrations, New Year's Eve, Spring into Summer, as well as concerts and other events in Springer Market Square
Planning & Development Services
- Prepares and implements land use and development plans, including the Official Plan, Integrated Mobility Plan, and Zoning By-law
- Reviews on average 265 planning applications to support new residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional development
- Issues approximately 2,000 building permits annually and conducts building inspections to ensure compliance with the Ontario Building Code and applicable regulations
- Leads studies on affordable housing, natural and built heritage, brownfields, community improvement plans, employment land development and other strategic growth and planning priorities
- Responds to 8,400 annual customer service requests
- Maintains 1,828 lane km of roads, 688km of sidewalks and 49 bridges, including plowing and snow clearing, road resurfacing, pothole repairs and street sweeping
- Maintains 211 traffic signals, 90 large culverts and 363 kilometres of storm sewers
- Implements community safety and traffic calming measures
- Provides residential curbside collection of garbage, organics and leaf and yard waste, managing approximately 39,000 tonnes annually
- Manages household hazardous waste collection and disposal programs
- Monitors and maintains three inactive landfill sites
- Delivers waste reduction, diversion, and public education initiatives
- Provides 6.0 million transit trips annually, supported by over 263,000 annual in-service hours
- Maintains 82 transit buses
External Agencies
The City supports external agencies primarily through direct financial funding, budget allocation reviews, and intergovernmental advocacy.
Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority
- Monitors and protects watersheds, natural habitats, shorelines, and other natural resources through conservation and environmental stewardship programs
- Provides accessible transit services through a fleet of 24 specialized vehicles, delivering over 65,000 annual service hours
Kingston Economic Development Corporation
- Promotes economic growth through business attraction, retention, expansion, and investment opportunities
Kingston & Frontenac Public Library
- Operates 5 library branches providing access to physical and digital collections, programs, events, and community spaces
- Provides 24/7 emergency response with over 65,000 calls for service annually
- Provides specialized investigative services to support criminal investigations involving major crimes, cybercrime, fraud, and vulnerable sector investigations
- Promotes Kingston as a premier tourist destination, leveraging tourism as a key driver of economic development
Delivers public health programs and services that promote healthy communities, prevent illness, and protect population health
2025 Budget
Note: Council amended the proposed municipal operating budget by adding a one-time contribution of $200,000 for food programs to be funded from the Working Fund Reserve.
2024 Budget
Note: Council amended the proposed budget to include an additional $1 million to support family physician recruitment as well as $40 thousand for additional crossing guards.
2023 Budget
2022 Budget
2021 Budget
The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinabek, Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land.
Today, the City is committed to working with Indigenous peoples and all residents to pursue a united path of reconciliation.
Learn more about the City's reconciliation initiatives.
