CityHousing Hamilton faces a projected $2.26 million budget overrun this year if current spending trends continue, according to the agency’s first-quarter variance report.
Due to the City’s February 2024 cybersecurity failure, City Council has not received any financial variance reports for last year or this year, and still hasn’t received the 2023 end-of-year budget reconciliation and audit.
Sixteen months after the failure, the City still hasn’t restored all its financial systems. Council has not publicly discussed any timelines to restore financial controls and transparency.
CityHousing’s budget variance report states the agency still cannot provide revenue figures due to “continued limitations in the tenant software.”
CHH Overall 3.1% Over Budget, Projected $2.26M Annual Overspend
CHH’s total expenses are 3.1 per cent over budget for the first four months of 2025, spending $25,381,818 against a budget of $24,628,028—a variance of $753,790. If current trends continue, the agency is projected to exceed its annual budget of $73.9 million by approximately $2.26 million.
CHH Material, Services, and Utility Costs Significantly Over Budget
CHH spent 25 per cent more than budgeted on materials and services between January and the end of April—$6,802,204 versus a budget of $5,422,668.
Chief Financial Officer Rochelle D’Souza says materials to repair newly vacated units, grounds maintenance, and security costs are the primary reasons.
“The biggest variances are in unit turnovers and we are looking into that area,” she said.
Utility costs are 13.6 per cent over budget—$4,677,136 spent versus a budget of $4,116,023.
“I’m hoping it is a seasonal variance and we come close to budget at the end of 12 months,” D’Souza stated.
The CHH Board asked no questions regarding the variances.
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Published: July 3, 2025
Last updated: July 3, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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