Scugog 2026 Budget increase lowered from 5.54% to 4.12% due to new residential development and assessment growth in the municipality

Scugog – The Township of Scugog is pleased to report that the 2026 budget will be deemed adopted following the December 15 Council meeting. Due to the growth in housing in the Township that was added to the assessment roll for 2026, the originally estimated increase of 5.54% is now expected to be 4.12%. This represents 4% for infrastructure needs, such as roads, facilities, vehicles, and equipment, and 0.12% for general operations. The impact on the average residential property equates to a monthly increase of $6.55.

Mayor Wilma Wotten has followed the new strong mayor’s legislation and applied strict guidelines for staff to produce a budget that maintained operations while keeping costs below the cost-of-living average. “I think it’s important to note that from the estimated 4.12% increase, 4% goes directly to funding the Township’s infrastructure needs. We heard from town hall meetings that those who completed our budget survey preferred keeping infrastructure investments to help repair our roads and maintain our aging buildings. This is money that goes directly to these projects, and not for day-to-day operational needs,” said Mayor Wotten.

Through the review of the capital budget, the Township also looked at spreading out the cost of projects over multiple years or even deferring large projects - like the Queen Street road rehabilitation - while advancing other needed road works to 2026. “I opted to issue one last directive for the 2026 budget to move the Queen Street Corridor Study back to 2028,” said Mayor Wotten. “This aligns with moving the Queen Street and Perry Street roadworks to the 2031 forecast, so that the results received from the Corridor Study will help inform the planned roadworks. It also provides staff with more time to review/revise the scope of the Corridor Study and consult with stakeholders.”

For information on Mayoral Decisions and the veto of amendments, please visit the Township’s Strong Mayor Powers webpage. The 2026 budget is expected to be final by mid-December. Subscribe to scugog.ca/news to receive news and notice updates to your email inbox.

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Media Contact: Communications and Strategic Projects, Township of Scugog
905.985.7346, media@scugog.ca

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