Belleville Council has approved the 2026 Capital Budget and 10-Year Capital Plan, with an amendment made to the 10-Year Capital Plan by Coun. Paul Carr.
The decision came Tuesday morning at Belleville City Hall.
The capital budget for Belleville for next year currently sits at $55.5 million dollars, a slight increase from this year’s $53.7 million.
Council heard a motion dealing with Section 284.16 of the Municipal Act and Strong Mayor Powers in the 10-Year Capital Plan – specifically, a clause that lets Council amend a proposed budget. The proposed change was to add project 1.108, the Heritage Park Playground, back into the 2026 Capital Budget with $175,000 in funding from the Asset Management Reserve.
The playground project had originally been pushed to 2027. Coun. Carr explained that there’s dedicated parkland at 28 Redwood Drive and 320 Farnham Road, next to the Cannifton Mills Pipeline, with about one hectare suitable for development. He said staff have received multiple concerns from residents worried about kids crossing Farnham Road to reach the Cannifton Mills Park playground, a stretch within a 500-metre radius that poses a safety risk. Heritage Park is already a busy neighbourhood where kids play, Carr noted, but they don’t have a designated space of their own. With traffic on Farnham Road continuing to increase, he said families are looking for safe, local playground equipment.
Council unanimously supported the amendment.
Coun. Garnet Thompson also introduced an amendment calling for traffic lights at Farley and Bridge streets. He said residents have complained that drivers frequently roll through the stop signs and that installing lights now, before any future reconstruction, would be more cost-effective.
That amendment, however, did not pass.
Council also heard from Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd and Police Services Board Chair Heather Smith regarding the 2026 budget for the Belleville Police Service, saying they must secure the funding necessary to sustain the technology, facilities, specialized equipment, and fleet.
The 2026 Capital Budget Proposal for the Belleville Police Service (BPS) is $1,194,887 and will be allocated to the following areas:
Specialized Equipment: $321,243
Information Technology: $279,955
Fleet Purchases: $529,939
Facility, Furniture, Fixtures: $63,749
The BPS 2026 Capital Budget Proposal is 2.15% of the total 2026 Draft Capital Budget of $55.5 million for the City of Belleville.
One major component of the request was for a Community Rescue Vehicle (CRV) which would cost $206,670, of which they have received $107,000 from community donations and are requesting an additional $100,000.
The deputation was received and referred to Capital Issue Nos. 1.088 and 1.089.
To view the full 2026 Capital Budget Draft, click here.
To view the full 10-Year Capital Plan, click here.
