The City of Brantford has launched its 2026 Budget engagement campaign, introducing a new online transparency tool called OpenBook to help residents better understand how municipal funds are managed — and to provide input before Council finalizes next year’s spending plan.
Now entering the third year of its multi-year budgeting process, the City says it remains committed to balancing fiscal responsibility with community needs.
Through OpenBook, available at brantford.openbook.questica.com, residents can explore how tax dollars are distributed across departments, view capital project investments, and gain insight into the costs behind key services such as infrastructure, transit, housing, and climate initiatives.
The initiative runs alongside the City’s Let’s Talk Brantford engagement portal (letstalkbrantford.ca/citybudget), which provides background information and allows residents to participate directly in the 2026 budget conversation.
A central feature of the campaign is the 2026 Budget Priorities Survey, open until November 6, 2025, which asks residents to weigh in on spending priorities, tax levels, and potential areas for cost savings.
The online survey takes roughly five to ten minutes to complete.
Those who prefer to share their views in person can also register as delegations at upcoming Estimates Committee meetings — where budget discussions will take place.
The City Services Budget will be reviewed on November 24, followed by the Local Boards Budgets on December 1, 2025. Registration details are available at brantford.ca/delegation.
Mayor Kevin Davis emphasized the importance of resident input in shaping the final budget.
“Under the Strong Mayor’s Act, I have the responsibility to deliver the City’s annual budget,” Davis said.
“That responsibility comes with an obligation to ensure residents have meaningful opportunities to share their views before budget decisions are finalized.
The City’s new OpenBook platform supports that goal by helping residents better understand where their tax dollars go and how their input can help shape future budget decisions.”
Public feedback gathered through the engagement campaign will be presented to the Estimates Committee during its first 2026 budget deliberation on November 24, 2025.
Residents can access OpenBook and other resources through letstalkbrantford.ca/citybudget.
