All municipal councils are entering the 2026 budget season and all of them will face considerable challenges trying
to keep tax increases down for hard-pressed ratepayers.
On Wednesday, Quinte West council will be reminded of those challenges by the Director of Finance/Treasurer
Caleb DenOuden.
In his report, DenOuden describes a situation that has consumer and non-residential construction inflation rising by
around 19% over the past four years while council’s budget increases since 2021 total just 14%.
The OPP have already announced they will cap their 2026 increase at an eyebrow-raising 11% and it’s believed subsequent
increases will be above the inflation rate in the forseeable future.
City staff have yet to see what increases will be passed on by external service providers such as Hastings County and Southeast Public Health.
Staff salary and benefit increases are estimated to have increased by 3%
As far as capital spending is concerned, Quinte West’s annual infrastructure deficit (necessary spending minus actual spending) sits at $12.4 million a year and last year council dedicated 3% of the levy increase to capital investment to bring the deficit down over the long term.
See the entire Director of Finance/Treasurer’s report here.
Last year, council set a residential tax levy increase of 5.98% and council’s 2026 budget meetings will be held on December 10 and 11.
