Budget 2026: The Numbers
I have done a dive on the 2026 Budget and prepared a document located here, that goes back to budget 2023. You can see the costing on each line item through the 4 years.
Hopefully this gives you a clearer picture of where your money (as the tax payer) is going.
I’ve highlighted some line items that may pique your interest as to why these amounts are budgeted and where potential reductions might be achieved to reduce the budget amount/ tax rate.
I’ll save my comments for another time.
| 2026 budget | $5,412,948.21 |
|---|---|
| Legislative (Mayor & Council wages ) | $117,000 (2%) |
| Administration (salaries of admin/CAO), benefits, building etc.) | $289,792 (5%) |
| Financial Management (treasurer, audit fees, etc.) | $122,522 (2%) |
| Common Services Other (incl RSC fees, insurance, Memberships and assessment fees) | $164,172 (3%) |
| Grants (social/ Environmental and “other”) | $40,371 (1%) |
| Police Protection | $742,864 (9%) |
| Fire Protection | $914,139 (17%) |
| Emergency Measures | $38,306 (1%) |
| Other Protection (Animal Control/Regional Public Safety Committee) | $16,757 (.3%) |
| Transportation (General Equipment) | $52,500 (1%) |
| Roads & Streets (Staff, Winter/ summer, signs, street lights, maintenance, snow removal, etc.) | $933,995 (17%) |
| Solid Waste | $408,515 (8%) |
| Public Health | $36,878 (1%) |
| Planning and Zoning (RSC costs) | $185,651 (3%) |
| Beautification/ Rehabilitation | |
| Tree removal | $132,465 (2%) |
| Economic Development / Tourism | $81,741 (2%) |
| Recreation / Culture (incl libraries, staff) | $179,131 (3%) |
| Debt Repayment | $307,416 (6%) |
| Transfers to Reserves | $645,679.21 (12%) |