City of Hamilton Launches Interactive Budget Tool to engage Residents in 2025 Financial Planning

Posted on by lyndzeefreeman

The City of Hamilton is enhancing public engagement in its budget
development process with the launch of the Balancing Act Budget Tool, an interactive
platform designed to empower residents to explore and provide input on the City’s
budget priorities. This initiative aims to foster transparency and strengthen community
collaboration in shaping Hamilton’s 2025 budget.


The Balancing Act Budget Tool offers a user-friendly and educational experience,
helping residents to navigate the complexities of municipal budgeting. By simulating the
decision-making process, users can adjust funding for services such as public safety,
infrastructure, and social programs, seeing in real-time how these changes affect the
overall budget balance.
Key Features of the Tool:

  • Interactive Budgeting: Participants can adjust different areas of a budget – such
    as funding for public safety, infrastructure, and social services – to see how
    changes affect the overall financial balance. This demonstrates how tight budget
    constraints work and about the trade-offs involved in resource allocation.
  • Real-Time Impact Visualization: The tool shows the impact of each change
    immediately, which helps residents see how increasing or decreasing funds in
    one area might require adjustments in another to keep the budget balanced.
  • Community Engagement: Balancing Act offers an interactive way for Hamilton
    residents to voice their feedback on budget priorities in a structured format. It will
    provide Council and City leaders with information on community preferences to
    help them make informed decisions that reflect residents’ needs.
  • Enhanced Transparency: The tool provides an easy-to-understand breakdown
    of budget components, which helps users understand the complex budgetary
    trade-offs that decision-makers face.

The insights gathered through the Balancing Act Budget Tool will be compiled and
presented to City Council in early 2025, ensuring that residents’ input plays a key role in
shaping the final budget.

This budget tool is now live and can be accessed here.
Hamilton residents are encouraged to use the tool to share their insights and help shape
a financial plan that reflects the community’s priorities.