Prince Edward County Council met for over seven hours at Shire Hall today to continue discussing the draft 2026 budget in Prince Edward County.
Council saw presentations from various staff members regarding Water & Wastewater Services Department Capital Budget, Development Services Department, Operational Services Department, Recreation & Community Facilities Department, H.J. McFarland Memorial Home Long-Term Care Department Capital Budget, Finance & Information Technology Department Capital Budget, and Community Services, Programs, & Initiatives Department Capital Budget.
Prince Edward County Fire & Rescue Department and EMS (Land Ambluance) Capital Budget was also originally on the agenda, but was pushed to first thing on Dec 3 due to the lengthy meeting on Dec 2.
Prince Edward County’s 2026 Capital Budget outlines major investments to maintain, upgrade, and expand municipal infrastructure across water/wastewater, roads, facilities, parks, emergency services, and equipment. The budget distinguishes between new capital projects, continuing multi-year projects, and carry-forward projects where work hasn’t begun.
The capital program is organized by department and includes both tax-supported and rate-supported (water/wastewater user-funded) works.
Key Highlights:
Water & Wastewater (Rate-Supported)
Continuing major multi-year projects:
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Replacement of the Wellington water & wastewater treatment plants
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Wellington trunk mains (water + sewer)
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Picton Main Street Phase 3 reconstruction
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York Street and Elm Street laneway reconstruction
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Belleville Street sanitary forcemain
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Picton Master Servicing Plan
Carry-forward:
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SCADA computer/system upgrades
New projects:
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Equipment replacements at Peats Point, Picton WTP and WWTP, Lalor pump station
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Ameliasburgh and Wellington WTP upgrades (including $600K in filter repairs)
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Water & Wastewater Rate Study for 2027–2031 ($60K)
Development Services (Tax-Supported)
Continuing road & servicing projects
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Wellington Main Street culvert
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County Road 49 storm sewer
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County Road 1 truck route
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Traffic calming program
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County Road 3, 49, and Bloomfield Main Street work
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Rossmore Master Stormwater Plan
Carry-forward
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Shoreline designation review
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Wellington Secondary Plan update
New projects
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Intersection illumination upgrades ($85.8K, 2 locations/year)
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Major reconstructions: Barker Street, Bowery Street (multiple segments)
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Traffic calming annual allocation ($48K)
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Pineridge booster pumping station ($954K)
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Sidewalk replacements/additions (Consecon, County Rd 29)
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Oak Street water tower demolition ($289K)
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Disraeli Street servicing for affordable housing
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55 King Street parking lot rehabilitation
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County Road 18 Outlet Bridge rehabilitation ($2.19M)
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Fry Road culvert replacement
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Employment/industrial lands study ($110K)
One motion was put forward that Council recommend that County Rd 1 (truck route) reconstruction allocation in the draft 2026 budget in the amount of $3 million be reallocated to other applicable roads reconstruction projects, which was carried.
Another motion was put forward by Councillor St-Jean, seconded by Councillor Nieman, to remove the 55 King St parking lot project from the 2026 budget, which was carried. At the end of the meeting, Councillor St-Jean motioned to reconsider his original motion to remove the 55 King St parking lot project, which was carried.
Operational Services
Continuing
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Sand storage dome repairs
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Tandem truck replacements
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Light-duty fleet lifecycle replacements
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Monitoring well installation
Carry-forward
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Stormwater Management Facility Assessments
New projects
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Big Island/Robinson Cove improvements ($45K)
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Picton Marina fuel dock replacement ($75K)
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Boat launch repairs at four sites ($140K)
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Wellington Beach/Beach Street climate-resiliency upgrades ($620K)
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Fleet replacements (wheel loader, vans, 2-ton truck, etc.)
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New single-axle winter truck ($465K)
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Sand dome structural repairs ($252.5K)
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Rural Roads Program – over 63 km ($4.5M total)
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Single surface treatment: 28.5 km
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Double surface treatment: 19.55 km
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Microsurfacing: 4.4 km
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Crack sealing: 10–20 km
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Slope stabilization at 5036 Long Point Road ($75K)
This was received by Council.
Recreation and Community Facilities
Continuing
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Prince Edward Community Centre HVAC
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Macaulay Church roof
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Green barn rehabilitation
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Benson Park playground (phase 1)
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Parks video monitoring
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Outdoor rinks, park upgrades, condition assessments
Carry-forward
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Jack Taylor Park washrooms
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Johnson Street storage shed
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Accessibility upgrades
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Consecon Park shelter
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Milford Fairgrounds plan
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Ameliasburgh Heritage Village pathways
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Downes Avenue green space activation
New projects
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Six outdoor pickleball courts ($400K; two-thirds donation funded)
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Wellington Community Centre ice plant replacements (multiple components)
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Prince Edward CC compressor rebuild + computer upgrade
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Wilkinson multiuse court resurface ($180K)
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Crystal Palace Phase 3 revitalization ($750K)
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Bloomfield Town Hall AC replacement
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North Marysburgh Hall water supply upgrades
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Rotary Park new playground equipment ($150K)
Councillor Roberts brought forward a motion, seconded by Councillor Grosso, that Council recommend that the utilization of the Parkland Reserve Fund in the amount of $133,500 for the outdoor pickleball courts be reduced to $100,000 in the draft 2026 budget, and save $33,500. This was not received by Council.
Councillor Hirsch also brought forward a motion, seconded by Councillor St-Jean, that the Crystal Palace Revitalization Project have its budget reduced to $500,000 on the basis of replacing cedar shingles with the request composite product. This was received by Council.
H.J. McFarland Memorial Home
Continuing the long-term care home rebuild project. This was received by Council.
Finance and Information Technology
Carry-forward
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Land ambulance defibrillators
New projects
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IT infrastructure upgrades (network hardware, servers, cabling, workstations)
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Human Resources Information System ($100K)
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Development Charges background study updates
This was received by Council.
Community Services, Programs & Initiatives
Continuing
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DC fast chargers for EVs (grant-funded)
Carry-forward
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Delhi Park active transportation connections (pending funding)
New projects
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Purchase of 30 Upper Lake Street property for staff accommodations/storage ($332K)
This was received by Council.
Council meets again for 9am on Dec 3 at Shire Hall for the final day of budget meetings.
