Windsor's mayor wants a budget with a 0% tax increase. Staff warn that's challenging

If Windsor council is going to pass a budget that doesn't change property taxes next year then city staff needs to offer areas to cut spending or bring in more money.

Mayor Drew Dilkens says there are "no sacred cows" when it comes to city services and he wants options that will keep the overall budget balanced.

"We look at the budget as from a holistic perspective, understanding that some additions will be made and there will be some subtractions elsewhere," said Dilkens.

He's telling taxpayers and city staff that "everything is on the table" when it comes to this year's budget.

It comes as Windsor taxpayers deal with the highest unemployment rate in Canada amid the trade war with the United States.

"In the face of uncertainty that we see today because of the threats by Donald Trump across the river, I think it's appropriate that we put a budget in front of City Council that shows a pathway to 0," Dilkens added.

This year's approved budget, which included a 2.99 per cent tax increase, projects next year's operating budget growing by about $41 million, and requiring a 4.2 per cent property tax increase to offer the same services.

That's before staff consider any mitigation strategies that could increase revenue or lower expenses.

There are two budgets that city council approves each year:

Earlier this year, top level staff were told to bring back ideas to their departments that could help the city achieve a 5 to 10 per cent overall tax levy decrease.

That could include higher user fees, different service delivery options or funding from upper levels of government.

"Maintaining a property tax levy increase that is at or near the rate of inflation will be challenging," wrote Windsor's commissioner of finance Janice Guthrie, "given recent employee contract settlements, purchase of supplies, fuel cost, and contracts that are based upon prior annual CPI increases."

Bids on construction projects are also escalating, she warned at the time, which put pressure on the city's 10-year capital budget.

The blended rate of inflation, which is a combination of the consumer price index and building construction price index, is 2.3 per cent.