Make Hamilton Better: How You Can Impact Crime, Housing, Pollution & Property Taxes (Part 3)
| 6 Ways to Make a Difference in Hamilton Today | |
|---|---|
| Learn | Learn about the issues in Hamilton and how city council works. You’ve already started this one since you’re reading about it right now in this blog post! You can also read our previous blog post, (both part 1 and 2) which dives into this checklist in more detail. |
| Find your ward and city councilor | Find your Ward: Hamilton has 15. Find Your Councilor: Once you’ve determined which ward you are a part of, you can find your councilor. |
| Speak up | Speak up about issues in the city that you care about. You can: Contact Your City Councilor Attend a Meeting at Hamilton City Hall Speak at a City Council Meeting Watch a Hamilton City Council or Committee Meeting Onlin |
| Stay informed | Keep up-to-date on local news through a variety of channels like CHCH News, The Hamilton Spectator, and follow the City of Hamilton on social media: Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Join discussions and fill out surveys about city projects on Engage Hamilton. |
| Vote | Mark October 26, 2026, on your calendar for the next municipal election. To prepare for voting, you should: Register as a voter. Research candidates running in the next Hamilton municipal election. You can learn more about who you’ll be voting for in part 1 of this blog post. Vote in the Hamilton municipal election on October 26, 2026. |
| Volunteer | Join or host a community cleanup. You can do so through Hamilton’s “Team Up to Clean Up” program, as an example. Volunteer at a local non-profit like Hamilton’s Out of the Cold or Good Shepherd, as a few examples. There are a ton of issues to tackle in Hamilton through volunteering. Which one interests you? |
Tired of High Property Taxes, Tents, Garbage and Crime in Hamilton?
Have you ever walked past a homeless encampment downtown and wished there was more the city could do? Or wondered why property taxes are so high when streets are still littered with garbage? Maybe you’ve seen vandalism or rising crime rates and felt unsure about how to help.
These aren’t just Hamilton’s problems—they’re our problems. But the good news is, you can play a role in creating solutions. Here’s how we, as Hamiltonians, can make a real difference.
Who’s Responsible for Fixing These Problems?
Hamilton’s municipal government—led by the mayor and city councilors—is responsible for tackling key issues like homelessness, housing, and crime. They oversee a $2.4 billion budget, with about half of it funded by property taxes. That’s over $5,000 a year per household on average.
The choices they make directly impact our lives, from building affordable housing to supporting crime prevention programs. But here’s the thing: they need your input to make better decisions.
Where Does Hamilton’s Money Go?
| Where Does Hamilton's $2.4 Billion Budget Go | |
|---|---|
| Public Works | $1.1 billion (45.83% of the total budget) Includes road maintenance, waste management, and infrastructure projects. |
| Transit Services | $239 million (9.96%) Allocated for public transportation services and maintenance. |
| Hamilton Police Services | $206.9 million (8.62%) Funds law enforcement and public safety operations. |
| Housing and Homelessness Initiatives | $158 million (6.58%) Supports affordable housing projects and homelessness prevention programs. |
| Public Health Services | $63 million (2.63%) Covers health programs like immunizations, for example. |
Why Are Property Taxes So High in Hamilton?
Hamilton’s challenges—like aging infrastructure, homelessness, and environmental initiatives—require significant investment. In addition, the city spent $7 million on a cybersecurity breach earlier this year, with plans to invest another $33 million to modernize and protect digital services.
While these projects are essential, they come with a price tag that residents feel through higher property taxes.
What Can You Do to Lower Property Taxes in Hamilton?
| What Can You Do to Influence Property Taxes in Hamilton? | |
|---|---|
| Get Involved in the City’s Budget Process | The next meeting about the city’s 2025 budget is on January 20th, 2025. You can request to speak at this meeting, or watch it virtually to stay informed. |
| Vote in the Municipal Election | The next municipal election in Hamilton is October 2026. Register as a voter, research candidates and make an informed vote on who you think should be the next decision makers of Hamilton. |
| Follow the News & City Budget Decisions | Watch CHCH on YouTube, or read articles online. You can also read the Hamilton Spectator, or follow the City of Hamilton on social media, as a few examples. |
| Explore Tax Relief Programs from the City of Hamilton | |
| Seniors (65+) Tax Rebate Program | This program offers a property tax credit to senior homeowners aged 65 or older with a combined household income of $42,840 or less. |
| Full Deferral of Taxes | Hamilton provides a full deferral of property taxes for eligible low-income seniors and low-income persons with disabilities. |
| Compassionate Appeals | The city offers a compassionate appeal process for residents facing extreme illness or poverty, allowing for the cancellation, reduction, or refund of property taxes. |
Upcoming City Projects to Watch: How it Affects Taxpayers
| Upcoming Projects in the City of Hamilton: How it Affects Taxpayers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Light Rail Transit (LRT) | A 14-kilometre LRT (light rail transit) line is planned to connect McMaster University to Eastgate Square, providing efficient and reliable public transit. The project has secured funding commitments from both federal and provincial governments, each contributing $1.7 billion to the project. | The City of Hamilton is responsible for the operating and maintenance costs once the LRT becomes operational. These ongoing expenses will be funded by taxpayers. |
| Waterfront Redevelopment | Hamilton's waterfront is undergoing redevelopment, including plans for residential units, commercial spaces, and public amenities estimated at a cost of $140 million. The project is financed through a mix of public and private investments. | Taxpayers are partially funding this project. |
Getting Involved with Your Local Government
Here’s how to tackle some common barriers that stop us from getting involved with a municipal government, or any sort of politics for that matter:
1. “I don’t have time to.”
By spending a few minutes each day catching up on the local news, you’ll be staying informed on what’s going on in your community. You can watch past city council meetings online at your own convenience or use Engage Hamilton to share feedback at a time that suits you.
2. “I’m not sure where to start.”
Start with our checklist at the top of this blog post, “5 Ways to Make a Change in Hamilton” and work your way through the items. Learn about the issues in your city and what steps you can take to solve them, like contacting your ward councilor. Then, you can move on to things like attending a city council meeting (and you don’t even need to speak—just listen and get a feel for the process the first time you go).
3. “My voice won’t matter.”
Even small actions can make a big impact. Report a pothole or overflowing garbage bin using the city’s website. Share your thoughts on surveys and city projects through Engage Hamilton. Write to your councilor about a specific concern, like the need for more shelter beds or street lights. All of this helps contribute to a safer, cleaner Hamilton for everyone.
4. “I don’t understand how the government works.”
That’s why we’re actively creating content that will help you learn about and engage with the Hamilton municipal government. With our blog posts and videos, you’ll gain the information you need to get involved and make an impact with your local city council.
360HAMILTON
At 360Hamilton, we’re on a mission to change the way people connect to the information they need. That's why we’re actively creating content like this blog post about Hamilton’s Municipal Government, and our video, which will help you get to know the City of Hamilton.
But that’s not all we've been up to. We’re also building online platforms that will enable you to provide a one-stop shop in support of your own community, no matter where you are.
Stay tuned for what’s ahead at 360hamilton.ca. Soon, you’ll be able to combine innovative tools from videos, blog posts, news articles, online stores, collaboration, and more - all in ONE convenient location. Stay tuned for more videos and blog posts by 360Hamilton!
