Special Meeting of Council re Amendments to the Mayors Proposed 2026 Annual Budget Highlights - November 3, 2025

Open Public Forum

Michael O'Brien provided Council with questions regarding the proposed 2026 Budget, specifically regarding to the Supplementary Memo – 2026 Budget Follow-Up Questions and Answers that was included in the November 3, 2025, Special Council Meeting agenda package. Mr. O’Brien requested clarification regarding the portion of revenue attributed to long-term debt in the revenue chart and requested clarification on the low percentage of revenue shown from pits and quarries. Mr. O’Brien also asked about the general budget package and wanted to clarify how reserve contributions are allocated, particularly whether taxpayer-funded reserve increases are being used to support waste and wastewater operations and if those funds ultimately return to the general tax base.

Council

Council considered a series of amendments the Mayor’s Proposed 2026 Annual Budget, including the following:

• Council adopted an amendment to increase the allocation for OPP Contracted Services in the Administration Budget from $1,946,500 to $2,038,000 to reflect an 11% rate increase cap based on the 2025 revised OPP billing,
• Council adopted an amendment to the Infrastructure Capital Projects Budget to update the allocation for the Building Condition Assessments project, with $45,600 funded from property taxation, $13,600 from the Water ratepayers’ designated budget, and $20,800 from the Wastewater ratepayers’ designated budget.
• Council adopted amendments to the Infrastructure Capital Projects Budget to reallocate funding for three projects:
  • Changing the Yard 3 Fuel Monitoring project from property taxation to the Modernization Reserve reducing the levy-funded portion by $35,000
  • Changing the Fleet Management Software project from property taxation to the Modernization Reserve reducing the levy-funded portion by $40,000
  • Allocating $100,000 from the Modernization Reserve for the generator addition in the Yard 1 Building Renovations project, resulting in a $100,000 reduction to the levy-funded portion of the budget.
• Council adopted an amendment to the Infrastructure Capital Projects to remove $100,000 in property tax funding from the Yard 1 Building Renovations project, specifically for lunchroom renovations and stormwater upgrades, resulting in a $100,000 reduction to the levy-funded portion of the budget.
• Council adopted an amendment to the Administration Budget to add a new operating budget item providing a $10,000 grant from General Reserves to support renovations to the Brechin-Mara Legion Branch #488 Building Fund.
• Council adopted an amendment to reduce the Fire Budget Reserves-Expenses allocation from $350,000 to $250,000, reflecting a $100,000 decrease to the levy-funded portion of the budget and a partial reduction in the planned reserve contribution for the future expansion of Fire Station 1.
• Council adopted an amendment to recognize an additional $97,500 in Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund revenue and allocate the amount to the General Reserve.
• Council received and adopted Report TR-07-25 to satisfy the requirements of Ontario Regulation 284/09, outlining the impact of excluded non-cash expenses such as amortization and employee benefits on the Township’s overall financial position.

With the amendments adopted at the November 3, 2025, Special Council Meeting, the proposed 2026 Budget tax levy increase was reduced from 5.97% to 4.05%.

Please note: Under Ontario’s strong mayor budget process, which is legislated through the Municipal Act, while the Mayor’s Veto Period remains open, any of the Council-adopted amendments have the potential to be vetoed. If the Mayor does not veto the amendments during the veto time frame, the budget process is considered complete and the budget is deemed adopted. If the Mayor exercises his right to veto, Council may override a veto with a two-thirds majority within 15 days of the end of the Veto Period.

Bills and Bylaws

Council approved the following bylaws on November 3, 2025:

• A bylaw to confirm the proceedings of the Special Meeting of Council meeting held on November 3, 2025.