The City of Quinte West has began discussing its draft 2026 budget, a comprehensive financial plan that places heavy emphasis on infrastructure renewal, long-term fiscal sustainability, and maintaining service levels amid ongoing economic pressures. The budget, reviewed by Council on Dec. 10 and 11, outlines a 4.99% residential tax levy increase, equal to roughly $199 more per year for the average home assessed at $250,000.
City officials say the budget reflects a continued commitment to fiscal responsibility, stability, and investment in core services. Mayor Jim Harrison and senior staff emphasize priorities including avoiding new debt where possible, strengthening reserve, reducing the infrastructure deficit, supporting housing, healthcare, and economic growth, and responding to inflation and external legislative pressures. The City notes that the plan balances rising costs such as policing, healthcare partnerships, and building inflation, with opportunities like new provincial funding, assessment growth, and improved operational efficiencies.
Overall Figures:
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Operating Budget: $92.5 million (up from $86.4M in 2025)
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Capital Budget: $23.4 million (down from $43.3M in 2025)
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Proposed residential levy increase: 4.99%
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Capital levy (dedicated): 2.58%
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Policing cost increase: 1.2% of levy
The City highlights that there has been no property reassessment change, meaning tax increases are entirely budget-driven.
Quinte West reports strong results in 2025, including $11M in provincial funding for major urbanization work on Highway 2 and 2nd Dug Hill Road, 68 capital projects completed, $39.6 million invested in capital improvement, 590 building permits issued valued at $147 million, and significant growth in facility use, media releases, and electronic service uptake.
2026 Budget Drivers:
Rising Costs
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Inflation and high construction pricing continue to pressure finances
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Policing costs are rising 12%, including a major OPP salary adjustment
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Healthcare partnerships (such as physician recruitment) now total $746,600, equivalent to nearly 1% of the total levy. The motion put forward by Councillor Shelley Stedall, which mandates that costs related to healthcare be itemized on residents’ tax bills to show the allocation of their funds, was approved after only a short discussion.
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Insurance and software costs are up significantly
Assessment Growth
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The City expects 1% growth, adding $835,000 in new taxation revenue
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An additional $250,000 was found through property assessment corrections
Housing Requirements
Provincial legislation (Bill 23) is reducing development charge revenue, requiring the City to increase its housing levy to $450,000 for 2026. A new Housing Community Improvement Plan is funded at $100,000.
Recycling Changes
With Ontario’s shift to a producer-led recycling model, Quinte West saves $731,000, though $233,000 in non-eligible recycling costs were added back internally.
Departmental Impacts
Municipal departments make up 47% of the operating budget, with nearly every division facing cost increases due to inflation, software updates, and wage adjustments. The largest increases are seen in:
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Public Works: +$623,640
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Fire Services: +$411,800
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Community Services: +$419,562
No new staff positions are being added in 2026.
External Agencies & Partners
External partners make up 34% of the budget, including:
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Hastings County services: CHS, EMS, and Long-Term Care, expected to rise 7.3%
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SouthEast Public Health: 5% increase
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Quinte Transit: 5.8% increase
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OPP Policing: 11–12.5% increase
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Conservation authorities: 1.75%-9.4% increases
The City urges Council to set clear funding expectations for Hastings County to stabilize local budgeting.
Capital Budget Overview
The $23.4 million capital program invests heavily in:
Roads & Bridges
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Division Street full reconstruction – $5.55M
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Wastewater pipe upsizing (North Trent & Huffman) – $614K
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Various Roads Programs (arterial + local) – $5.07M combined
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Wilson Island Bridge repairs, 2nd Dug Hill culvert, Front Street Bridge design and replacement work
Parks & Community Facilities
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Trenton Arena Pad 2 slab replacement – $2.5M
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Park upgrades in Hartt’s Corners, Hillside Meadows, Frankford
- Tourism wayfinding signage
Technology & Safety
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$700,000 for new financial software (ERP)
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$100,000 for community safety technology
Fleet
Council is reapproving 2026 fleet purchases and pre-approving 2027 needs to avoid procurement delays.
Reserves, Debt & Long-Term Outlook
Reserves
Projected 2026 reserve and reserve fund balances total $49.7 million. The City remains near target levels, but major capital pressures loom beyond 2032.
Debt
The City holds $43.1 million in debt and expects to add $20 million in 2026 for:
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Trent Port Marina breakwall
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Wooler Road bridge
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Bain Park–Centennial Park trail
Most new debt will be funded through reserves.
Public Engagement & Process
Residents participated in the budget via the City’s online engagement platform. The draft was released Dec. 3, reviewed Dec. 10 and 11, and will proceed through Ontario’s Strong Mayor budget process, which includes:
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30-day Council amendment window
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10-day mayoral veto period
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15-day Council override window
Budget adoption occurs automatically once timelines expire.
Fire and Emergency Services:
The City of Quinte West’s draft 2026 budget for Fire and Emergency Services (QWFES) proposes an overall operating budget variance (increase) of $411,800, or 9.54%, entirely due to Core/Inflationary adjustments. The QWFES is composed of 21 career firefighters and 139 volunteer firefighters.
Key Proposed Financial Details:
The net operating expenditure increase is $411,800.
Required training for volunteer firefighters will increase salaries by $400,000. This increase is proposed to be covered by a one-time reserve transfer from the WSIB surplus reserve.
Significant increases in the cost of new vehicles resulted in a change to the Fire Fleet Capital transfer, which is proposed to increase from $175,000 to $895,000 to maintain the required replacement schedule.
The 10-Year Capital Plan proposes spending $772,000 (in thousands) in 2026 for Fire Services.
The department is expecting increased revenue from two sources: Charging for fire inspections and an increase in fire prevention inspections to achieve higher revenue as per City by-law. It was also stated that required software costs have increased by $20,800.
Proposed Strategic Goals for 2026:
Fire Master Plan: Implementation of the Fire Master Plan to identify potential cost savings and assist with operational efficiencies in service delivery.
Training & Certification: Continue the ongoing completion of mandatory staff certification with a goal of 100% compliance of Part 1 by year end. The cost of this training can be handled in-house with the Training Officer.
Communications: Complete the construction of a new communications tower at the Youngs Cove Treatment Plant to significantly enhance communications in the southern area of the municipality.
Technical Rescue: Begin the development of specialized technical rescue teams to address new provincial requirements (O. Reg. 343/22) due in 2028.
Water and Wastewater:
The draft budget reflects an approximate 6.9% increase to the average household water and wastewater bill, effective January 1, 2026.
The Water and Wastewater Services budget is funded entirely by user rates, development charges, and government grants; no contribution comes from property taxes.
A major factor contributing to the overall increase in the operating budget is the rising cost of electricity. Increases are also driven by contractual salary obligations, debt payments, and an additional $683,000 in shared costs from the City due to a revised calculation.
The total proposed capital budget for Water is $3.424 million and for Wastewater is $4.407 million. Projects are prioritized based on asset management and address both infrastructure renewal and growth:
Major Growth Projects (Multi-Year):
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Continued funding for the West End Trunk Sewer construction, an ongoing project to support growth on the west end of Trenton.
- Construction set to begin in spring 2026 for the Trent Street Sewage Pumping Station expansion, a new forcemain, and upsizing of gravity sewers to support operational growth.
Infrastructure and Rehabilitation:
Watermain lining and rehabilitation projects are slated to receive $1 million.
Sewer rehabilitation and inflow/infiltration reduction projects are budgeted for $1 million.
Significant funding is allocated for Asset Management Facility assessment projects and maintenance at the Bayside, Frankford, and Trenton Water Treatment Plants to replace aging components.
The full 2026 draft budget book can be viewed here.
The full 2026 Water and Wastewater budget book can be viewed here.
Council meets again for 9am tomorrow at Quinte West City Hall.
