How Burlington's Government Works: City Council, Halton Region, & School Boards
Burlington votes on October 26, but who exactly are residents voting for, and what do they decide? Local government in Burlington has several layers, and it can be hard to tell who handles what, from a pothole to a water main to a school board decision. This guide explains how Burlington's government works: the City, Halton Region, and the school boards, who sits where, what each is responsible for, how property taxes are divided, and who to call.
This article explains the system and does not take a position on any candidate or issue.
Burlington's Layers of Local Government
Burlington residents are served by three main local bodies, plus the Province and the federal government above them.
The City of Burlington
The City is the local municipality, the level of government closest to everyday life. It is led by a mayor and six ward councillors and delivers services like parks, recreation, local roads, transit, planning and zoning, by-laws, and fire and emergency services.
Halton Region
Burlington is one of four local municipalities in the Regional Municipality of Halton, along with Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville. Halton Region is the upper-tier government, serving more than 650,000 residents, and it is responsible for larger, shared services like water, paramedics, and public health.
The School Boards
Schools are run by separate school boards, not by the City or the Region. Burlington residents are served by four: the Halton District School Board, the Halton Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir. Voters elect trustees for the board they support.
Who Sits on Burlington's Council?
Burlington City Council is made up of the mayor and six ward councillors, one for each of the city's six wards. The mayor and all six councillors also sit on Halton Regional Council, a 24-member body that includes representatives from Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville. The Halton Regional Chair leads Regional Council, and that position does not appear on Burlington's ballot.
In practice, that means the people you elect to City Hall also help decide Regional matters, like the Region's budget.
How Council Works
Council does much of its work through committees. The City's standing committees of Council include the Audit Committee, Budget Committee, Committee of the Whole, Council Workshop Committee, and Pipeline to Permit Committee. The City also has advisory committees made up of residents on topics such as heritage, cycling, seniors, accessibility, inclusivity, and transportation. Council and committee meetings are public, with agendas and minutes posted online, and residents can apply to speak at a meeting.
What the City of Burlington Does
The City delivers many of the services you use every day:
Recreation programs, community centres, arenas, pools, and splash pads
Parks, trails, playgrounds, leash-free dog parks, and forestry
Local roads, sidewalks, snow removal, cycling infrastructure, and parking
Burlington Transit
Planning, zoning, development applications, and building permits
By-law enforcement and animal services
Fire and emergency services
Arts, culture, festivals, and events
Support for neighbourhood groups through community grants and programs
The Burlington Public Library is a related but separate body, governed by a citizen board appointed by the City.
What Halton Region Does
Halton Region provides services that work best at a larger scale, including:
Water treatment and wastewater services
Regional roads and infrastructure planning
Paramedic services
Waste management
Public health
Social assistance, children's services, and seniors' services
Housing services
Policing, through the Halton Regional Police Service
Emergency management, heritage programs, and economic development
The Region also makes contributions to conservation authorities.
What Changed in Land Use Planning in 2024
Planning is one area where the roles recently shifted. Since July 1, 2024, Halton Region has been an upper-tier municipality without planning responsibilities, and the four local municipalities, including Burlington, are responsible for preparing and approving their own official plans. The Regional Official Plan remains in effect as an official plan in each local municipality until it is amended or revoked. To see how a project moves through the City's process, read our guide to how a development gets approved in Burlington.
What the Mayor Does
The mayor is the head of Council and chairs its meetings. Under provincial legislation, Burlington's mayor also holds special powers under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, often called strong mayor powers, which were extended to Burlington in 2023. Under these rules, the mayor proposes the City's annual budget, Council can amend it, the mayor can veto those amendments, and Council can override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote. The mayor also has authority to direct City staff in writing. The City posts these mayoral decisions publicly on its website.
Where Your Property Tax Goes
Your property tax bill has three parts, and the City collects all of them. The City collects taxes for the City, Halton Region, and the Halton district school boards, and sends the Region and school board portions along to them. In 2025, for each residential dollar collected, 51.4% stayed with the City, 32.9% went to Halton Region, and 15.7% went to the school boards. The City's levy was about $264.7 million, while it collected about $170.1 million for Halton Region and $119.1 million for the school boards, for a combined total of roughly $553.9 million. The split changes each year with budgets, so check the City's website for the latest figures.
Because the Region's budget is approved by Regional Council, the same people you elect to Burlington City Council vote on a large part of your tax bill.
Who Handles What: A Quick Guide
If you need... | Contact |
|---|---|
Parks, recreation programs, community centres | City of Burlington |
Local roads, snow removal, parking, transit | City of Burlington |
Zoning, building permits, development applications | City of Burlington |
By-law complaints, animal services | City of Burlington |
Fire services | City of Burlington |
Water, wastewater, regional roads | Halton Region |
Garbage and recycling collection | Halton Region |
Paramedics, public health, social and housing services | Halton Region |
Police | Halton Regional Police Service |
Library services | Burlington Public Library |
Schools, school buses, curriculum | Your school board |
Property tax bill questions | City of Burlington (which collects it) |
For City services, you can reach Service Burlington by calling 905-335-7777 or emailing city@burlington.ca, and for Regional services you can call Halton Region at 311.
How to Get Involved
There are many ways to take part beyond voting: speak at a council or committee meeting, apply to serve on a City board or committee, take part in public engagement and budget consultations, volunteer, and read agendas and minutes to see what is coming up. The City's Horizon 2050 strategic plan also frames civic engagement as a shared responsibility between residents, businesses, and government.
Burlington Government FAQ
How Many Councillors Does Burlington Have?
Burlington has six ward councillors in addition to the mayor.
Do Burlington Councillors Also Sit on Halton Regional Council?
Yes. The mayor and all six Burlington councillors sit on the 24-member Halton Regional Council.
Who Provides Policing in Burlington?
The Halton Regional Police Service, which is funded through Halton Region.
Who Is Responsible for Garbage and Recycling?
Waste management is a Halton Region service.
How Are School Trustees Elected?
Residents vote for a trustee for the school board they support, with four boards serving Burlington: the Halton District School Board, the Halton Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir.
Where Does My Property Tax Go?
It is divided among the City, Halton Region, and the school boards, with about half staying with the City in 2025.
The Bigger Picture
It is easy to feel that local government is distant or confusing, but it shapes the things we notice most: the park down the street, the bus that comes or doesn't, the water that comes out of the tap, the school down the road. Knowing who is responsible for what makes it easier to ask the right question of the right person and to vote with a clearer sense of what the job involves. For more on why this vote matters, read our look at why the election is closer to your daily life than you think.
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Please note that the information in this blog is for general guidance only and may not always be up to date or accurate. We recommend double-checking details directly with local cities, businesses, or official sources before making any plans or acting on the information. We are not a news outlet, and while we do our best to make sure information is accurate, sometimes we make mistakes. It is always best to verify with official sources. The inclusion of any business, individual, event, or service on the Burlington 365 platform does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or guarantee of its quality, performance, or reliability. Users are solely responsible for conducting their own research and due diligence before engaging with any third-party businesses or services listed on the platform.