The total proposed preliminary 2023 operating budget expenditure for regional services, which excludes police, is $1.2 billion – more than 11 per cent higher and about $48 million more than the 2022 budget.
Some Region of Waterloo councillors are questioning Coun. Rob Deutschmann’s decision to hire two people out of pocket to help him with his council duties, citing an issue of inequality among councillors.
Regional staff have been directed to look into whether Region of Waterloo councillors should be allowed to hire their own staff members, and if so, what rules should those staff members have to follow. It comes after Coun. Rob Deutschmann announced in November that he'd personally hired two people.
Region of Waterloo council has sent the Ontario government a letter outlining their concerns with Bill 23 and making the case that the provincial government should cover some of the region's operating deficit, as it has offered for the City of Toronto.