Public transit investment and parking fees were top of mind among people addressing Windsor city councillors on the budget this week.
The draft 2024 budget documents were tabled Monday and council heard from over a dozen residents and organizations on issues in the budget.
The budget calls for another 3.93 per cent in the municipal levy, below the rate of inflation and last year's 4.48 per cent increase.
The budget recommends a Transit Windsor fare increase of 10 per cent overall but 15 per cent increase for cash fares. That would bring cash fares up to $3.75 a ride.
Multiple delegates told council this would put added pressure on the most vulnerable in the city who need the transit system to access employment.
"Although inflationary pressures are used as justification for increased fare costs, those inflationary pressures are also felt by Windsor's transit riders," said Josh Sankarla, resident of Ward 8.
Sankarla also voices concerns over the lack of investment in the transit system overall since the Transit Master plan was approved in 2020.
Delegates from the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association raised concerns over proposals to increase parking enforcement at meters and reintroduce permitting fees for sidewalk cafes.
The budget also proposes increasing parking enforcement at parking peters throughout the city from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and increasing flat fee parking rates after 6 p.m. in some city lots.
City administration estimates increased parking enforcement will create over $400,000 in revenue and increasing the flat fee after 6 p.m. would increase revenue by another $100,000.
DWBIA Chair Chris MacLeod says increased parking enforcement will deter people from downtown and other areas with metered parking.
"When they can go somewhere else for an evening dinner that doesn't require them to pay for parking after 6 p.m. this decision by council will change people's decisions and behaviours," said MacLeod.
Permit fees for sidewalk cafes have been waived since the pandemic. The city is proposing reintroducing those fees this year. The executive director of the DWBIA said this is bad timing for business owners.
"Many of our members took advantage of the CEBA loans and are struggling now to repay those so this is a particularly hard year and we're asking you for grace for yet another year," said Debi Croucher, executive director of the DWBIA.
Councillors will debate the budget at its next council meeting on January 29, 2024. The goal is to have the budget approved before February 6, 2024.
