Centre Hastings residents are currently looking at a 6.5 per cent to a 6.9 per cent tax increase as a result of the proposed 2026 budget.
The proposed budget presented to council this week includes gross expenditures of $13,372,440.
It originally featured an over eight per cent tax increase but Mayor Tom Deline says they’ve managed to knock a couple of points off without affecting services.
He had hoped to get the increase down to about five per cent by taking some money from capital reserves but the rest of council did not agree.
Major upcoming capital projects include a bridge replacement on Sills Road and two more on Bay Road.
The 2026 budget will be finalized in January.
Mayor Deline says while the tax increase will be a little more than he would have liked, he notes the municipality remains in good financial shape.
He commends council and staff for their work.
