Quinte West mayor Jim Harrison says he is hoping to keep the overall tax levy increase under 6% when all is said and done about the 2026 budget.
Council was presented with an outlook on the 2026 budget as well as a look at the long-term capital plan in a presentation on Wednesday.
Director of Finance/Treasurer Caleb DenOuden outlined some of the challenges that council faces heading into council’s 2026 budget meetings scheduled to be held on December 10 and 11.
DenOuden described 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%.
Ontario Provincial Police have already announced they will cap their 2026 increase at 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%.
Concerning capital spending, 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.
Mayor Harrison’s comments about keeping the overall tax levy increase under 6% came during a presentation from Lower Trent Conservation.
Quinte West is the largest municipal funder of Lower Trent Conservation, covering nearly 43% of the levy.
The 2026 budget is estimating Quinte West’s contribution would rise by $65,313.
Council stressed to Lower Trent Conservation to find ways to lower Quinte West’s increase to help the city achieve its less-than 6% target.
A presentation was also heard regarding a physician shortage at Trenton Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Colin MacPherson, Chief of Staff at Quinte Health, and Susan Rowe, Vice President of People and Strategy at Quinte Health, said that the emergency department at TMH currently has only four full-time and four part-time emergency physicians, which is not enough to cover all required shifts throughout the year.
They stressed the urgent need to recruit two additional full-time emergency doctors.
That request was referred to future budget discussions, however, council expressed frustration
Last year, council set a residential tax levy increase of 5.98%.
With files from Quinte News’ John Spitters
