Today, Wrenford City Council approved the 2026 operating and capital budgets, setting a 2.8 per cent property tax increase and outlining key investments in transit, roads, and recreation. The approved plans cover the city's essential services and infrastructure projects for the coming year.
"This budget is about balancing the books while keeping our city running safely and smoothly," said Mayor Danielle Okafor-Price. "We know that every dollar matters to our residents and businesses. We have made tough choices to keep taxes manageable while still investing in the services you rely on every day, like garbage collection, road repair, and our recreation centres."
The approved 2026 operating budget totals $348 million. The 2.8 per cent increase in municipal property taxes generates about $9.2 million in new revenue. This does not mean every property tax bill will go up by exactly 2.8 per cent. Individual bills depend on how a property's assessed value changes compared to the city average. Properties with a smaller increase in value will see a smaller tax increase, and vice versa. For a typical home assessed at $420,000, the municipal tax portion would rise by about $35.00 a month.
In addition to property taxes, utility fees for solid waste, water, and sewer will increase by an average of 3.5 per cent. These fees help fund the replacement of aging water mains and upgrades to the Tamsin River Water Treatment Plant.
Recreation program fees and facility admission prices will remain unchanged in 2026. The city will continue to offer free admission to seniors and youth at community centres, and program registration for fall 2026 opens on August 31, 2026.
Key investments in the capital budget include:
- $12 million for the Corvid Creek Ravine Pathway Extension and the Ambrel Lake Loop Expansion.
- $8 million for road resurfacing and sidewalk repairs across the Benchlands and Northgate neighbourhoods.
- $5 million for new electric buses to expand Wrenford Transit service.
- $3 million for fire prevention upgrades at Fire Station 2 and Fire Station 4.
City Manager Robert Eng noted that administration focused on core services and critical infrastructure. Officials worked to find efficiencies and reduce waste, but a modest tax increase was still needed to keep pace with rising costs for materials and labour. This plan keeps Wrenford on a solid financial path for years to come.
The final 2026 Tax Levy By-law, By-law 2026-044, will be published online once the provincial assessment figures are received in the spring. Interim property tax bills are due in February and April. If you have questions about your tax bill or want to set up pre-authorized payments, you can visit the Property Tax page or call Service Wrenford at 519-555-0100.
For more information, see Pandemic recovery grants.