Northumberland County Council has approved the draft 2026 County Budget. This updated budget, originally presented in 2024 as part of a multi-year budget process, reflects a pragmatic, needs-based approach to governance in response to ongoing financial pressures facing both the municipality and residents. Council and staff focused on near-term stability, affordability, and essential service continuity during a period of high costs and economic uncertainty. The approved draft budget will come back to Council December 17th for final by-law enactment.
The approved draft budget proposes a base levy of $82.8M. This 3.77% base levy increase after growth will amount to an estimated $61.43 increase in the County portion of property taxes for a median assessed homeowner in Northumberland. This is subject to adjustments in 2026 based on tax policy and information from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporate (MPAC). This moderate levy increase was achieved through use of reserves along with targeted adjustments to plans – designed to limit the impact on taxpayers while maintaining essential services.
“Residents across Northumberland are feeling the pressure of rising costs, and Council is mindful of these realities,” says Warden Brian Ostrander. “This year’s budget is about managing short-term pressures responsibly – holding the line on spending, preserving core services, and minimizing the tax levy increase. While it does not include new initiatives or long-term investments, it reflects intentional decisions rooted in fiscal responsibility.”
Earlier this year, Council directed staff to revisit the 2026 budget forecast to identify opportunities for cost savings and operational efficiencies. Council approved a series of adjustments – reducing project costs by scaling back some planned operational expansions and deferring capital infrastructure investments – to achieve at a 3.77% levy increase.
“Council made difficult but necessary decisions that allowed us to maintain the programs residents rely on, while mitigating significant financial strain on local households,” states Warden Ostrander. “For 2026, we are committed to ensuring that we can continue to deliver core services effectively in the near term.”
Staff will continue to monitor fiscal pressures, evaluate long-term needs, and identify future opportunities to reintroduce growth-enabling investments as conditions improve.
Updated budget documents incorporating 2026 revisions will be available at Northumberland.ca/Budget in January.
