At its regular meeting on Monday, November 10, 2025, City Council approved the Downtown Wrenford BIA's 2026 budget. The association's board presented the spending plan, outlining how it will support merchants and improve the downtown core throughout the coming year.
The Downtown Business Association runs the Business Improvement Area (BIA) independently. The City still plays a key role in how the BIA operates. City Council appoints most board members and keeps one seat reserved for a city representative. City administration also assigns a liaison to help the two groups share resources and work on projects together. Under the Municipal Act, 2001, Council must vote on the BIA budget every year. The City also collects the BIA property tax levy on behalf of the association.
When reviewing the proposal, Council checks that the BIA's goals line up with the city's wider community plans.
The approved budget for 2026 totals $315,000. This figure includes $22,500 collected through the BIA property tax levy. The rest of the funding comes from grants, service contracts, and fundraising activities. The levy portion is a 6.5 per cent increase from 2025.
Following today's vote, an amendment to the Business Tax By-law will come before Council at a future meeting to update the official levy rates.
"The downtown core is the heartbeat of Wrenford and the foundation of our local economy," said Mayor Danielle Okafor-Price. "The Downtown Wrenford BIA is a crucial partner in keeping our streets alive and welcoming. We all share a role in making sure local businesses thrive here."
The Downtown Wrenford BIA has supported local merchants for more than 25 years. Through advocacy, promotions, and partnerships, the association helps keep our downtown a great place to live, work, and shop.
Need more details on how the BIA funds local projects? Visit our Downtown BIA page. You can also see past meeting minutes on the Council meeting schedules page.