A Windsor city councillor is pushing for more transparency around a proposed $2.6 million cut to Housing and Children’s Services, filing a notice of motion that would allow public input on the item — even as the city releases new details on dozens of other budget changes. Ward 9 Coun. Kieran McKenzie said the housing cut remains one of the largest budget items still listed for in-camera discussion and stood out to him when he reviewed the executive summary of the 2026 proposed operating budget. “That raised a red flag for me right away, because anyone who lives in this community understands that we are in a housing crisis as we currently speak,” McKenzie said. “I wasn’t expecting that we would see as substantial a cut as is being proposed to that department, given where we are.” Why 29 budget items were released The councillor filed the motion Wednesday — the same day the city updated its 2026 budget documents, making 29 previously in-camera budget items public. The items were initially slated for closed-door discussion when Mayor Drew Dilkens tabled a proposed budget that aims to hold the municipal tax levy at zero per cent. After criticism from residents and advocacy groups over the high number of private items in the budget document, 54 to be exact, administration moved to release more information on a portion of the in-camera items. City officials have said the original use of in-camera classification was intended to protect sensitive information, including labour relations, contract negotiations, and operational security, but acknowledged that some items could be disclosed publicly. What the newly released items show The 29 public items reveal a mix of cost-saving measures, operational changes, and targeted investments across city departments. Several relate to staffing, including the elimination of vacant positions, holding roles unfilled, and reallocating duties due to modernization or digitization. Administration says many of those positions have been vacant for extended periods and that service levels are expected to be maintained. Beyond staffing, the documents outline broader operational changes: • A shift to a city-run recycling model for businesses, municipal buildings, and charities, replacing a regional agreement set to expire at the end of 2025 • Fuel budget reductions tied to lower gasoline and diesel prices following the removal of the federal consumer carbon tax • Changes to planning and building processes, including fee adjustments and updates to public notification practices • Transportation and public works adjustments linked to legislated requirements, including underground utility locating and wastewater system oversight While these items provide more clarity on how the city plans to achieve savings and manage costs, McKenzie said the most significant unanswered questions remain around housing. Calls for public input on housing cut McKenzie’s notice of motion would allow council to decide whether to permit public delegations specifically on the housing cut once any information that can be made public is released. “I think there needs to be a larger community conversation around whether or not these are appropriate cuts,” he said. “We need feedback from people in the community who are receiving the services that are delivered through this department.” He also criticized what he described as a compressed budget timeline, saying both council and the public have had fewer opportunities than in previous years to review and debate the budget. “In previous years, council had a much more active role earlier in the process,” said McKenzie, referring to last year’s Council Committee process and delegations from administration to councillors. “None of that happened this time around. We’ve essentially been given about a 30-day window to look at a billion-dollar budget and try to make sense of it.” Council is expected to hear public delegations on the proposed budget this Monday. Councillors can introduce amendments until the end of the month, with the mayor retaining veto authority under Ontario’s strong mayor framework.
