Media release:Financial stability, digital transformation and value for money key focuses of City Manager’s and Corporate Services 2018 departmental preliminary tax operating budgets

Hamilton, ON – With an emphasis on taxpayer value for money, performance excellence, financial stability and digital transformation, the City Manager’s Office and Corporate Services Department presented their 2018 tax operating budgets today to Hamilton City Council’s General Issues Committee. Staff provided a summary of 2017 accomplishments, measurements of success, and a look ahead to 2018 and beyond.  

For the City Manager’s Office, which is made up of the corporation’s administrative, human resources, strategic partnerships, revenue generation, communications, corporate initiatives, digital strategy and audit functions, City Manager, Chris Murray, conveyed key focuses for the department for 2018. They include the development and execution of the City’s Digital Strategy, including a continued focus on Open Data and our Smart City Strategy, launch of the City’s Performance Excellence Dashboard and phase two of the City’s Trust and Confidence report, enhancement of the CityApp, a focus on leadership development and staff training, and continuing to build strategic partnerships and secure new revenue generation opportunities.

Overall, the City Manager’s Office is requesting a total increase of $139,956, or 1.3% from 2017.

City Manager’s Office Quick Facts for 2017:

• Lead department on the development of the City’s Amazon HQ2 bid, which has been downloaded almost 111,000 times to date and is being leveraged to pursue other investment in Hamilton
• Successful rollout of the Citizen Dashboard and the Trust and Confidence Report, which improve accountability to residents and provide information about City services and their performance
• Supported the City’s successful application to become a Top7 Intelligent Community, worldwide
• Development of the City of Hamilton’s “CityApp” (launched February 2018)
• Reached an agreement entering the Hamilton Farmers’ Market into a 5-year $750K partnership with Meridian Credit Union
• Launched solution-focused, collaborative learning space, CityLAB, with McMaster University, Mohawk College and Redeemer University College
• Developed our Citizen Survey to help us understand needs and perceptions of Hamiltonians and identify areas for improvement in City service delivery, quality of life and wellbeing (survey ran Jan 15-Feb 4)
• Realized $3.25 million in proceeds from sale of Hamilton Technology Centre
• Secured $7.7M/15-year deal with Outfront Media to promote City programs, services and initiatives and generate advertising revenue
• Development and implementation of the Human Rights, Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Plan, including the Transgender Protocol Agreement
• Conducted a Value for Money audit on the use of external consultants, which put forward 12 recommendations to improve how external consultants are managed and more effectively utilized

For the Corporate Services Department, which is comprised of the finance, customer service and provincial offences administration, IT, legal, risk management and City Clerk functions, General Manager Mike Zegarac outlined a number of initiatives the department aims to carry out in 2018. They include expanding the City’s new agenda management system and staff Customer Service training program, upgrading of various financial systems and enhancing online taxation services, administration of the 2018 Municipal Elections and the development and implementation of an IT Strategy.

Overall, the Corporate Services Department is requesting a total increase of $405,230, or 1.5% from 2017.

Corporate Services Quick Facts for 2017:

• Coordination of the new agenda management system and audio visual equipment to improve information sharing, flow of meetings and online experience of viewing City Council and Committee meetings
• 2017 Gold Marcom Award for Customer Service Training
• Multi-Year Business Planning and Budget implemented
• AA+ Credit Rating & Stable Outlook from S&P Global Ratings
• Procurement Policy Review

These are the final departmental presentations for 2018. Council is expected to consider final approval of the City’s overall tax operating budget in March. Learn more about the 2018 Budget.

Additional Resources
2018 City Manager’s Office Preliminary Operating Budget presentation
2018 Corporate Services Preliminary Operating Budget presentation
www.hamilton.ca/Budget2018

Quotes

“Through the budget presentations over the past few weeks, staff have done a tremendous job at highlighting our accomplishments in 2017, and our major initiatives for 2018 and beyond. We’re committed to continuing to provide residents with the transparency and accountability they deserve, and to ensuring they find value for their tax dollars through City programs and services, ongoing infrastructure improvements and economic development, prosperity and growth initiatives.”
Chris Murray, City Manager