Dear Friends,
Today, I tabled the Town’s 2026 Operating and Capital budget. The budget reflects months of hard work, collaboration, and careful planning by Town’s staff with input from you! It’s not just about numbers — it’s about the services, programs, and infrastructure that make Stouffville a great place to live.
Each year, we work hard to balance fiscal responsibility with the need to invest in what matters most — community safety, reliable infrastructure, and strong, connected neighbourhoods. The 2026 Budget does just that. It recognizes the real financial pressures we’re facing while continuing to plan responsibly for the future.
The 2026 Budget is designed to move us closer to Council’s Strategic Plan by investing in the priorities that matter most to our community. Our 5 strategic service areas are:
A Town that Grows – Planning for connected, complete communities while maintaining the character and quality of life residents value.
A Town that Moves – Investing in roads, trails, sidewalks, and cycling infrastructure to improve connectivity and active transportation.
An Engaging Town – Supporting community events and outreach that bring people together and celebrate what makes Stouffville special.
A Healthy and Greener Town – Expanding recreation and park opportunities while protecting our natural environment.
A Safe Town – Strengthening emergency preparedness, neighbourhood safety, and overall community well-being.
Together, these investments advance Council’s vision for a thriving, connected, and sustainable Stouffville. The 2026 Budget totals $119 million, balancing the needs of a growing community with fiscal responsibility. About $82.7 million goes to day-to-day services — snow clearing, waste collection, recreation programs, fire services, and our library. The remaining $36.3 million is for capital projects, including road improvements, facility upgrades, and other investments that prepare us for future growth.
This budget includes a 3.5% tax levy increase which translates to approximately an $80 increase in the Town’s portion of an average tax bill, allowing us to maintain service levels, manage cost pressures, and invest in the priorities Council and the community value. In short, this budget delivers essential services today while investing in Stouffville’s future.
As we look at this comparison, I’m proud to share that Whitchurch-Stouffville continues to rank among the most affordable municipalities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Areas. In fact, in 2025, we had the 6th lowest residential tax rate across the entire region.
But what’s truly remarkable is that this low tax rate doesn’t come at the expense of service quality or community amenities. Despite our modest tax rate, we continue to deliver a wide range of high-quality services—from well-maintained parks and trails, to vibrant recreation programmes, cultural events, and responsive fire and winter services. Our residents enjoy access to modern facilities, safe neighbourhoods, and a growing list of amenities that support a high quality of life.
This balance—affordability with excellence in service delivery—is a testament to our commitment to fiscal responsibility and strategic planning. We work hard to ensure that every dollar is used effectively to meet the needs of our community today, while planning responsibly for tomorrow.
So when you see where we stand in comparison to other municipalities, know that we’re not just offering a lower tax rate—we’re offering exceptional value.
This summer, as part of our budget process, we took an active approach to engage the community. Online surveys, budget simulations for residents to use and a physical presence at events all summer helped us hear directly from you. As part of our engagement, we asked residents to tell us which services matter most to them—and the results were clear and insightful.
Infrastructure investments topped the list, with residents rating it as their highest priority. This includes roads, water systems, and other core assets that support daily life and long-term growth. Fire and emergency services came in second, reflecting the community’s strong focus on safety and preparedness. We also saw meaningful support for events and community engagement, economic development, and winter maintenance—all of which contribute to the vibrancy and resilience of our Town. While services like parks and trails, library, and recreation programmes received slightly lower scores, they remain essential to our quality of life and community well-being. These insights help us understand where to focus our resources and how to balance service delivery with fiscal responsibility. Thank you for sharing your priorities and helping us build a budget that reflects the values of Stouffville.
Looking ahead to 2026, there are a few key operating budget pressures we’re already preparing for. First, we’re seeing a drop in development-related revenues — things like building permits and planning application fees. These are important sources of funding that help support our day-to-day services. When development slows down, those revenues decrease, and that puts added pressure on the rest of the budget. Second, we’re seeing increased technology and cybersecurity costs. These investments are essential to make sure the Town keeps pace with rapid changes in technology — and just as importantly, to protect our systems and residents’ data. Third, we continue to face inflationary and contractual increases. From utilities to service agreements, costs are rising across the board. We’re working hard to manage those responsibly while maintaining the service levels our residents expect. And finally, we’re preparing for Fire Union negotiations and planning to hire four new firefighters. This is an important investment in community safety and ensures our emergency services can keep up with the needs of a growing town.
These pressures are very real — but so is our commitment to thoughtful financial planning, transparency, and keeping residents’ priorities at the centre of every decision we make.
I’m proud to share some of the exciting capital investments we’re making — shaped by your input and focused on building a stronger, more connected Stouffville. First, the Main Street Revitalization — a major $18.5 million investment that will breathe new life into the heart of our town. It will make Main Street more vibrant, accessible, and welcoming for residents, visitors, and local businesses. We’re also closing a key gap in the Stouffville–Rouge Trail, in partnership with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and York Region. This $1.5 million project — with a Town contribution of $441,000 — supports active transportation and environmental connectivity. Our Annual Road Repair Program continues with $1.3 million dedicated to keeping our roads safe, reliable, and ready to handle growth — because a town that moves needs strong infrastructure. We’re also investing in the secondary plan for the expansion lands, making sure we’re ready when new development opportunities come forward. And we’re also excited to bring Busato Park to life — with $475,000 set aside to create a brand-new green space for families, children, and community gatherings. Together, these projects reflect our shared values — mobility, sustainability, safety, and community spirit.
So to recap, the 2026 Budget includes a 3.5% tax levy increase, which works out to about $80 on the Town’s portion of the average property tax bill. When we look at the blended rate — including the Region and Education portions — that translates to an overall 3.04% increase. This allows us to maintain our service levels, manage rising costs, and continue investing in the priorities that Council and our community value most. For Water and Wastewater, the blended rate increase is 4.4%, along with a 2% increase to the capital infrastructure fee — ensuring we can continue maintaining and upgrading the systems that support our growing town.
In short, this budget delivers the essential services residents rely on today, while investing in the future of Stouffville — keeping our community strong, sustainable, and ready for what’s ahead.
Thank you to all the residents who helped shape these budget priorities.
Together, we’re building a town we’re all proud to call home.
