​Bruce County council approves 2026 budget with 4.37% tax-rate increase

Bruce County council approved the 2026 capital and operating budgets at Thursday’s meeting. A final bylaw will adopt the budget at the council meeting, Dec. 18.

The budget supports the realization of actions set in the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan as well as the Indigenous Reconciliation Framework. It also addresses current pressures facing the community while committing to a long-term plan that appropriately funds the county’s aging infrastructure assets and builds a solid foundation for continued progress, states a press release issued Friday.

The approved budget:
 

• Includes expenditures of $207-million
• Funding of $75.9-million from property tax levies, a 4.37-per-cent increase for 2026 with 2.5 per cent of that dedicated to replacing aging infrastructure assets
• Key investments in transportation infrastructure, facilities, long-term care and senior services, as well as housing and community development

One of the focuses of the approved budget is on community support efforts. This includes moving forward with building the additional community housing development on Eastridge Road in Walkerton.

The approval of additional investments also enhances outreach supports and encampment response which bolster homelessness prevention efforts. They provide transition support to secure and maintain stable housing for individuals on the By-Name list.

“The 2026 budget is a responsible step forward in realizing our strategic plan for Bruce County’s continued prosperity,” said warden Luke Charbonneau. “Through this budget, we are dedicating significant funding to infrastructure and social supports in a way that represents good value for property taxpayers.

“Thank you to our expert county staff for the hard work and careful planning that went into building this budget. Thank you also to the members of the community who helped to guide the process by providing their input through the annual budget survey.”

Discover more about the 2026–2030 draft corporate budget and forecast at www.brucecounty.on.ca/budget.