Budget directives focus on affordability, core services in Greater Napanee

Greater Napanee’s Mayor is challenging staff to prioritize affordability and support for core services in the town’s 2026 budget.

In line with recent changes to the Municipal Act, Mayor Terry Richardson issued a budget directive to staff outlining his expectations for the upcoming budget. Key among the Mayor’s expectations was a recognition of the challenging economic environment, compounded by global tariffs and inflation, as well as an OPP bill projected to increase by as much as 11-per cent which would result in a 3-per cent municipal tax increase.

“While the town, like citizens, has been greatly impacted by inflation, I believe it is our responsibility to make the best use of the resources we already have and to limit to the greatest extent possible any tax increase to investments in core services,” stated Mayor Richardson.

“I am challenging staff in this directive to find ways to do more with less and to focus new investments in the areas of transportation and public safety, areas that we cannot afford to ignore.”

As part of his budget directive, Mayor Richardson is asking staff to focus on the following budget goals:

• Restricting all new net tax-supported requests to core services, with a specific focus on transportation and public safety.

• Reduce the solid waste special levy to reflect any cost savings realized from provincial legislation that removes recycling from municipal jurisdiction.

• Limiting multi-year funding commitments related to the purchase of capital assets.

• Avoid hiring any new full-time employees.

• Find strategies to support community recreation and culture requests without relying on new funding from taxpayers.

• Address the Town’s $8 million in unfunded capital assets through non-taxation revenue sources.

• Avoid dipping into the Town’s Annual Capital Funding allocation of $1.22 million to artificially reduce the Town’s operating budget obligations.

In this directive, the Mayor also asked staff to delay the budget to January 2026 to allow Town staff time to receive information on OPP funding increases.