Prince Edward County Council decided to draw on some reserve funds to keep the tax increase for ratepayers from being higher than originally planned.
The 2026 Operating Budget was proposing a net General Levy increase of 4.35% to be raised from existing taxpayers, after accounting for assessment growth.
It was originally set for a 3.59% increase when the Operating and Capital Budgets were approved in December, but a number of adjustments (especially the OPP costing increase) pushed it to the higher initial target.
Adjustments:
1. Library Funding Adjustment: The draft 2026 Budget included the standard placeholder of a 2% increase for the County of Prince Edward Public Library & Archives. After binder publication and a presentation by the Library’s CEO, the Library confirmed its revised budget increase of 2.7%, resulting in an additional $13,410 levy impact. This revised allocation has been incorporated into the final budget.
2. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Contract Adjustment: The draft 2026 Budget projected a 6% increase in policing costs based on available preliminary information. On the evening of December 5, 2025, the County received the finalized OPP contract confirming an 11% increase, resulting in an unanticipated $390,479 levy pressure. This updated cost is now reflected in the final budget.
3. Payroll Corrections: After the binder was published but before budget deliberations were completed, staff identified two payroll discrepancies: A full-time Engineering position was included twice, resulting in a correction and savings of $275,068 and volunteer firefighter compensation was over budgeted by $208,018, due to legacy costing assumptions combined, these corrections reduce the operating levy by $483,086.
4. Spare Ambulance Added to 2026 Budget: Updated information communicated after binder publication resulted in the need to add a spare ambulance to the 2026 capital plan. This item was not included in the original draft but is required by the County’s Land Ambulance Services provider (Hastings County) to meet operational needs for 2026. The ambulance has been added at a cost of $370,000, funded through the levy.
5. Quinte Conservation Budget Reduction: Following the conclusion of the County’s 2026 Budget deliberations, Quinte Conservation approved its 2026 Budget with a requisition increase of 2.77%, reduced from the previously anticipated 4.0% increase reflected in the draft budget. This subsequent approval results in a savings of $18,025 to the County compared to the original budget assumption.
Councillor Nieman put forward a motion, seconded by Councillor Grosso, stating that Council authorize the use of $143,500 from the Operating Year-End Carry-Forward Climate Reserve, $150,000 from the Municipal Accomodation Tax MAT Reserve, and $96,979 from the Waste Inversion Reserve to offset the 2026 Operating Levy increase, resulting from the Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P.) contract. Following a lengthy discussion, this was added into the report and approved as a whole.
As a result, the tax increase for ratepayers in Prince Edward County was finalized at 3.56%, slightly better than the increase approved in December.
The full report can be read here.
Council meets again on January 27th, 2026 for 7pm at Shire Hall.
