Proposed 2026 budget balances growth with fiscal responsibility

The 2026 Proposed Budget was presented at the Township of West Lincoln’s Corporate Services Committee meeting on Monday, November 17, and is now available for public viewing. This is the first West Lincoln Budget prepared under the Province’s Strong Mayor Budget Framework, a new legislative process established under the Municipal Act.

The proposed budget adopts a long-term focus to drive economic development and refine West Lincoln’s competitive advantage and employs strategies to cut costs while still delivering significant value. The proposed budget invests in infrastructure and service enhancements and explores modernization tactics for cost reduction and suppression. Proposed budget highlights include:

• Road and bridge rehabilitation projects
• Online service in Building and By-law
• Economic Development funding for industrial and agricultural sectors promotion
• AI strategy and service automation investigation, to reduce the need for future staffing requirements
• New cost recovery funding model for recreation and events programming

The proposed budget also exercises short-term strategies to mitigate pressures and shield ratepayers.

Mayor Ganann issued a Strong Mayor Directive for administration to establish a Tax Stabilization Reserve to be incorporated in the 2026 Budget. The reserve would help stabilize tax increases, taking burden off residents and helping the Township move through the next few years until the forecasted assessment growth manifests. A draft policy to govern the reserve will come forward to Council for input in the second quarter of 2026. In the short term, the proposed 2026 budget includes an additional $100,000 of funding from reserves to help lower the proposed levy.

The total proposed levy, after assessment growth, represents a 3.98% increase over 2025. This would translate to an estimated annual increase of $69.21 for an average residential home in the non-urban area. In the urban area, after factoring in the proposed $2.63 increase to the urban service area levy, this would translate to an estimated annual increase of $71.84. These increases would be to the West Lincoln portion of the tax bill.

“I am proud of our staff for their diligent work on this proposed budget. They really do understand the difference between protecting the financial wellbeing and overall financial sustainability of our municipality with the ability of our residents to pay,” says Mayor Cheryl Ganann. “I am pleased with where we were able to get this budget to, and I am hopeful that another six pairs of eyes will result in more proposed amendments that will have a positive impact on this budget.”

Councillors can now submit proposed budget amendments until December 31, 2025. Proposed amendments will be deliberated at the All Committees meeting on January 12, 2026. (An additional meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 13 if further deliberation is needed.) This will be followed by a veto period, whereby the Mayor has 10 business days to veto Council-made amendments, and then a post Mayor veto period, whereby Councillors have 15 business days to override any Mayor vetoes. The last possible date for budget adoption is February 18, 2026.

The Proposed 2026 Budget can be viewed on the Township’s Budgets and Finances webpage. Residents are encouraged to contact their Ward Councillors if they have any feedback or suggestions for amendments.