2026 Budget Finalized

2026 Operating Budget

On November 18 and 26, Township Council reviewed and made amendments to the draft 2026 Budget. After two days of presentations and deliberations, Council closed the amendment period, and Mayor Hegadorn confirmed he would not veto any amendments made by Council. As a result, the 2026 municipal operating budget was finalized with a tax levy of $24.457 million, translating to a 3.64% increase for residential taxpayers.

Through the review and amendment process, Council was able to reduce the proposed tax levy impact by nearly 1.3 percent from the original 4.93 percent increase that was included as part of the draft 2026 budget.

This reduction was achieved through a variety of measures including the addition of anticipated spring ice rental revenue, grants to hire summer students, revenue generated as a result of changes to planning and development fees and additional development revenue.

“I am proud to confirm the approval of Loyalist Township’s 2026 municipal budget, a budget that reflects our commitment to building a vibrant and resilient community. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to all of our community members who engaged in the budget process by sharing their feedback through forms, questions, and by attending budget meetings. Your input is invaluable and has helped ensure that this budget meets the needs of our residents.

I also want to thank my fellow members of Council for their hard work and collaboration in crafting a budget that not only prioritizes the well-being of our community but also maintains fiscal responsibility in the face of ongoing inflationary pressures. As we move forward with a generational capital renewal project at the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre, we are mindful of the positive effect it will have on our residents and the long-term benefits it will bring to our community once it is fully open in 2026,” stated Loyalist Township Mayor, Jim Hegadorn.

Capital and Utilities Budget

The 2026 General Rate Capital was adopted totalling $10,039,663 and the 2026 Utilities Capital Budget was adopted at $9,905,534.

Key Strategic Investments

The 2026 municipal budget includes several strategic investments aimed at strengthening community infrastructure and services. Key initiatives include continued support for physician recruitment, new investments in capital infrastructure, and funding for fleet replacement. Additionally, the budget allocates resources, funded by the Housing Accelerator Fund, towards the implementation of the Affordable and Purpose-built Rental Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP). The budget also prioritizes funding to implement a Cyber Incident Response Plan and to begin the rollout of the IT master plan, ensuring the municipality is well-equipped to address emerging challenges in both cybersecurity and IT infrastructure. These investments are designed to enhance the community’s resilience, quality of life, and long-term sustainability.

Next Steps

The final net tax levy impact for 2026 will be determined once the Province of Ontario sets the education portion and the County of Lennox and Addington establish its requirements.