The 2026 operating budget for the City of Belleville was looked at and approved at a special meeting of council on Wednesday, but not without some adjustments and use of Strong Mayor Powers.
At the end of the meeting, the residential tax increase would be broken down as follows:
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Belleville Urban +5.10%
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Cannifton Urban +5.05%
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Cannifton Rural +6.01%
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Belleville Rural +4.55%
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Cannifton Rural to Urban +7.03%
“We have worked diligently throughout this year’s budget process to arrive at a responsible and balanced financial plan for 2026,” said Mayor Neil Ellis in a press release.
“This budget reflects our commitment to maintaining essential services, investing in our community and managing costs thoughtfully for residents. I would like to thank all City staff for their careful analysis, collaboration and dedication throughout this process.”
Much of the discussion for this year’s budget centered around the increase of the Belleville Police budget, which is seeing an increase of over 15% compared to the year before.
Councillor Paul Carr had sent a letter to the Chair of the Belleville Police Services Board, Heather Smith, as well as Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd with a series of questions surrounding the increase ahead of Wednesday’s meeting.
Those questions and more were ultimately answered during the Police Services Board’s presentation of their budget.
During the series of questions, Smith responded to a question about communication with the community on efforts done by the Police Services Board.
“I’ve recognized and we recognize this through the strategic planning process, we do not communicate well with our community.” Chair Smith said
“We need to tell the community more about what we do and more about what it costs and more about what the impact is, and so our board is committed to doing that through 2026 and beyond.”
Later in the meeting, Councillor Paul Carr put forward an amendment to cut the police budget increase in half.
He called the increase being proposed by the Belleville Police Services Board “drastic”.
“The fact of the matter is, I’ve heard it resounding from taxpayers that (police’s) request is unsustainable, unaffordable, and it must fall in line with what we’re expecting with other internal departments and something that they can reasonably swallow, and this they can’t. Hence my amendment.” Councillor Carr explained
Councillor Barbara Enright-Miller, who sits as vice-chair of the board, said she was not voting in favour of the amendment.
She says the budget had already been brought back to the Police Services Board to be looked at again and there was nothing else that could be done to lower the increase.
“There was nothing to cut. It had already been cut, and unfortunately, there’s been a lot of cuts leading up to this year that we’re making up for,” Enright-Miller explained to council.
“Policing is expensive, and it’s what it costs in 2026 unfortunately.”
In a recorded vote, councillor Carr’s amendment failed.
Councillors Paul Carr, Kathryn Brown, and Kelly Henderson voted in favour of the amendment.
Councillors Barbara Enright-Miller, Garnet Thompson, Margaret Seu, Lisa-Anne Chatten and Mayor Neil Ellis voted against it.
However, the original motion also got defeated in a 4-4 tie.
Councillor Lisa-Anne Chatten voted no against the original motion, saying she was hoping there was a compromise or different way to approach the police budget increase.
After a 10 minute recess, another amendment was proposed, this time by councillor Kathryn Brown, looking at a 10 percent increase.
That motion was also defeated in a recorded vote, 6-2.
Those voting against included Paul Carr, Barbara Enright-Miller, Garnet Thompson, Margaret Seu, Lisa-Anne Chatten and Mayor Neil Ellis.
Voting in favour were councillors Kathryn Brown and Kelly Henderson.
This ultimately meant that the original increase was approved as part of strong mayor powers.
Councillor Sean Kelly, who was not in attendance due to being on assignment for Quinte Broadcasting, said he would have voted to keep the original increase.
“(The) provincial government needs to increase their financial commitment. Community safety is a priority. Belleville is not alone in rising costs, other municipal police services are dealing with the same budget challenges. The provincial government has to step up.” Kelly tells Quinte News.
Other decisions that were made at the meeting included rejecting Southeast Public Health’s proposed five percent increase.
A motion was brought forward by councillor Kelly Henderson calling on the increase to be reduced to three percent.
That motion received unanimous approval in a recorded vote.
The full detailed 2026 Capital and Operating Budget reports will soon be up at the City of Belleville’s website.
Mayor Ellis will have until March 9 to veto any amendments made before the budget is adopted.
