By Pepper Parr
July 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
City Council approved the 2026 Financial Forecast report on July 15, with a focus on limiting tax impacts for residents. The report marks the start of the annual budget process and provides a preliminary look at the economic pressures and service needs that will shape the 2026 city budget.
The projected total tax increase is currently 4.49%. As part of the budget process, Council endorsed a Mayoral Direction for City staff to prepare a proposed budget with a total tax increase in the order of 4.5 per cent. The total tax increase includes services delivered by Burlington, Halton Region (including Police Services), and the Boards of Education.
With rising costs and global uncertainty, the 2026 budget strives to maintain affordability while continuing the essential services that foster a vibrant, high quality of life in our city.
Join the conversation and take part in upcoming public engagement opportunities, starting in late August, including:
– an online survey (opens late August)
– Food for Feedback event on Sept. 13
– six in-person budget townhalls, led by Mayor Meed Ward, with participating Ward Councillors and city staff – Sept. 18, 22, 23, 24, 29, Oct. 2
– a telephone town hall on Nov. 5, from 7 – 8:30 p.m.
– Committee and Council meetings
There is also a huge social media push.
The problem is that what the city is shilling online doesn’t sync with what is being discussed at city council meetings.
The early number was reported to be 5.84% increase over last year. At minute 53:03 of the Monday meeting, CFO Craig Milnar said: “A City of Burlington budget increase of 5.8% or less.”
References are made to the amount the Region will tax – the city collects the money for the Region – but has relatively little impact on what the final Regional tax levy will be.
Shown below is a screen grab of what the city is paying twitter (X) to get their story out. We wonder if this is paid for by the Mayor or the City; whichever, the numbers aren’t what CFO Craig Milnar is using at this point.
If this is what our Burlington Mayor and Council mean by i.e. quote: “with a focus on limiting tax impacts for residents”, they need to sharpen their pencils and go back to the drawing board and do it again!!
A tax increase of 5.80% for the Burlington portion only of our tax bill is too high and not acceptable.
Our current mayor and council have not been at all transparent with Burlington Property Tax Payers in regards to the amount of money they have spent in our city since they were first elected in October 2018.
These tax increases need to stop!
Also, I and I’m sure many other Burlington taxpayers would like to know how much money has been spent on both Bateman and the Skyway Arena “from inception to date”. After all, it’s the residents in Burlington that have to pay for it!