Jon Massimi

City/Township Council · Kitchener Ward 5

All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes

Budget & Taxes

Do you think the Region's or municipality's budget process should be more transparent and accessible to residents?single choice

It should be more transparent and accessible

Municipal and regional costs have generally risen faster than revenues restricted by property tax rules and limited local revenue tools. How would you balance tax increases against maintaining service levels and long-term financial sustainability?select up to 3 per part

A. Revenue approaches

Moderate, predictable tax increases to maintain service levels
Actively pursue provincial and federal transfer funding and grants
Exploring new local revenue tools where permitted by provincial legislation

D. Growth & cost recovery

Ensure new development pays a greater share of long-term infrastructure costs
Re-evaluate development incentives or subsidies that create long-term liabilities
Implement holding charges and strict servicing timelines on idle land to prevent land banking

B. Service levels

Adjust service delivery models to reduce costs without reducing access
Reduce discretionary programs to protect core services
Mobilize community assets and cross-sector partnerships to co-deliver programs

C. Capital & infrastructure

Prioritize maintenance and state-of-good-repair over expansion
Require lifecycle cost analysis before approving any new infrastructure
Prioritize capital projects that deliver energy retrofits to lower long-term operating costs

Please describe one concrete example of a trade-off you would support (or oppose) when costs rise faster than revenues.candidate's own words

I support deferring major new capital expansion projects, like non-essential facilities or decorative upgrades, so we can focus our budget on keeping essential roads, water mains, and community centers in good repair. When costs outstrip revenue, we have to protect core services first. Pushing back non-urgent expansions keeps property taxes predictable for local families and stops us from taking on future maintenance debts we cannot afford. It is all about taking care of what we already have before building new

If you chose "It should be more transparent and accessible", please describe how.candidate's own words

We need to stop burying residents in 500-page, jargon-filled PDFs. I’d love to see plain-language, visual breakdowns showing exactly how tax dollars are spent, paired with informal budget workshops at our local community centres. Bringing these conversations directly into our neighbourhoods makes it easy for everyday residents to share input on local parks, roads, and services before the final vote is cast.