Kitchener — Mayor

It is already sufficiently transparent and accessible

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

rejecting a service fee or user charge

It should be more transparent and accessible

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

Setting up a designated percentage of tax to go toward social housing construction.

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

The budget needs to treated as a public education process. Like people's property tax returns should delineate how much of the budget is programs that were set up due to provincial and federal neglect. And it should single out the police budget which the province has insulated from accountability

It should be more transparent and accessible

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

A transparent municipal government versus a reactive government that requires costly emergency solutions like the water crisis we are going through right now.

Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on budgets?candidate's own words

We should not be incurring long term debt for short term gain.

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

I would utilize block chain technology to eliminate any sort of discrepancies in our budget.

It should be more transparent and accessible

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

If costs were rising faster than revenues, I would support deferring a lower-priority capital project rather than immediately increasing property taxes to fund it. Essential services and state-of-good-repair work should come first. Before proceeding with a major project, Council should review its lifecycle costs, available funding, expected public benefit and long-term operating impact. Projects that do not demonstrate sufficient value or financial sustainability should be delayed, redesigned or cancelled until the fiscal position improves.

Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on budgets?candidate's own words

Budgets should be more than annual spending documents. They should be a clear plan for the community's future. Residents deserve to know where their tax dollars are going, what services and outcomes they are receiving, and what long-term commitments are being created. I support disciplined spending, transparent reporting, regular review of programs and projects, and clear explanations when tax increases are necessary. My approach would be to protect essential services, maintain existing infrastructure, and ensure that major new spending demonstrates measurable value for taxpayers.

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

Residents should be able to understand not only how much government is spending, but also what they are receiving for that money. I would support clearer, more accessible budget information, including plain-language explanations of major spending decisions, long-term infrastructure and debt obligations, and measurable outcomes. Greater transparency should make it easier for residents to understand the trade-offs Council is making and hold elected officials accountable.

It should be more transparent and accessible

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 would prioritize protecting essential frontline services and programs residents rely on, while delaying lower-priority capital projects or non-essential spending when costs rise faster than revenues. I would not support across-the-board cuts that may save money in the short term but create greater social and infrastructure costs later.

Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on budgets?candidate's own words

Municipal budgets should be presented in clear, plain language, with accessible breakdowns showing residents where revenues come from, how tax dollars are spent, and how major spending decisions affect services and property taxes. I would also support more opportunities for residents to provide input earlier in the budget process, before key decisions are finalized.