Windsor mayor orders hiring freeze as preparation begins for 2025 city budget

Windsor, Ont.'smayor on Thursday placed the southwestern Ontario city in a hiring freeze in anticipation of "significant budget pressures"in the 2025 budget.

Drew Dilkens announced a corporate hiring freeze would take effect immediately for all permanent full-time City of Windsor positions. He made the decision using authority granted by the province last year nknown as strong mayor powers.

"Earlier this week, I established three finance committees of councillors to examine and provide recommendations for operational and service savings in the 2025 city budget," Dilkens said in a news release.

"Today, I'm taking an additional step to honour my campaign commitment to keep budgets in line with inflation by implementing an immediate corporate hiring freeze at the City of Windsor."

The release said the directive will be subject to a review by the chief administrative officer of each position for operational needs.

A city spokesperson said they could not on Thursday answer questions about the current number of vacant positions and whether the freeze impacts currently posted openings, saying the city would need time to gather that data.

CUPE Local 543, which represents inside city workers, declined to comment Thursday.

Mayor's budget consultation process underway

The city launched the mayor's budget consultation process on Tuesdayto provide an additional avenue for council engagement and resident feedback to support the 2025 budget.

Beginning the week of Sept. 23, and sitting at a frequency as recommended by a committee chair, each committee will work alongside appropriate city commissioners and staff to explore options and submit their recommendations to city administration for consideration in the 2025 budget.