​Huron-Kinloss 2026 budget deemed adopted, with four-per-cent tax-rate increase

Huron-Kinloss Township's 2026 municipal budget has been finalized and is deemed adopted.

This year’s budget balances a commitment to essential infrastructure with a focus on community sustainability, resulting in a four-per-cent tax-rate increase.

The budget contains $17.3-million in operating expenditures and $13.3-million in capital expenditures. After revenues and transfers from reserves are applied, the township must levy $12.226-million, an increase of $746,968 (6.51 per cent) over the 2025 levy. While the total levy reflects the rising costs of materials and services, the impact on individual property owners is moderated by growth in the community’s assessment base.

For 2026, the municipal tax rate is set at 0.00788320, representing a four-per-cent increase over 2025. This means the municipal portion of the tax bill will increase by $30.32 for every $100,000 of a property’s assessed value. For an average single-family home assessed at $272,000, this represents an increase of approximately $82.47 per year, or about $1.59 per week.

The province-wide reassessment remains on hold; therefore, property values for the 2026 taxation year continue to be based on 2020 assessments unless property-specific changes have occurred.

This year was the township's first budget completed under the strong mayor powers established in Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act. These regulations grant mayors specific authority regarding budget preparation, timelines, and amendment requirements.

To ensure the process remained as close to the township’s traditional collaborative model as possible, mayor Don Murray directed staff to prepare a budget with a tax-rate increase capped at four per cent.

The mayor’s draft budget was formally proposed Jan. 19, and later presented at the Jan. 26 budget meeting. The process allowed council until Feb. 18 to suggest formal amendments. Throughout this period, the mayor and council continued to collaborate, clarify priorities, and discuss potential changes to support shared community goals.

During the Feb. 2 council meeting, members engaged in an open forum to explore community priorities and long-term financial planning. After evaluating proposed amendments, council reached a consensus and moved to waive the remainder of the 30-day amendment period. By waiving this period, the budget was deemed adopted as of Feb. 2, ahead of the statutory deadline.

“We’ve worked hard to deliver a budget that balances the reality of rising costs with the services our residents rely on every day,” said Murray. “By focusing on the priorities we heard from the community, such as keeping our roads safe, our water clean, and our fire services strong, we are making the necessary investments to care for Huron-Kinloss today while planning responsibly for generations to come.”

The adopted budget supports core municipal services and long-term sustainability, including:
 

• Maintaining and improving local roads, bridges, sidewalks, and stormwater infrastructure
• Upgrading water and wastewater systems to ensure reliable and safe service delivery
• Supporting fire and emergency services through equipment renewal and safety improvements
• Investing in community facilities and recreation amenities, including enhancements at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre and Point Clark Community Centre
• Enhancing parks, trails, and public spaces to support accessibility, recreation, and environmental stewardship
• Advancing long-term planning for waste management and infrastructure growth, including landfill capacity planning and master servicing studies

These investments align with resident feedback collected during the township’s 2026 budget engagement process and reflect the priorities identified in the township’s Sustainability and Strategic Plan.

To learn more about the 2026 budget, visit the township’s budget and finance web page.