Brant County faces significant budget pressures ahead of 2026 property tax discussions

Celeste Percy-Beauregard

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It’s too early to know what Brant County’s tax hike will be next year, but a long-term property tax forecast shows some of the 2026 budget pressures. 

The plan looks at the county’s anticipated capital projects, operating expenses, and revenue across the next 10 years, and the impact those projects could have on property taxes each year.

The 2026 forecast is 13.6 per cent — the highest anticipated across the decade.

But a consultant from Watson & Associates, which put together the forecast, was quick to point out it’s not the final property tax levy.

It’s “a raw set of data based on the expenditures and revenues in a particular year,” Byron Tan told council at a meeting at the beginning of the year.

By using reserve funds, delaying projects that aren’t a priority, or enlisting debt to help spread payments out, the county can “smooth” the rate to make it less of a hit to residents, Tan said at the time.

A municipality could also look to reducing services, but that wasn’t one of the options suggested — and longtime Coun. Robert Chambers pointed out at the meeting it’s not something the municipality has done “for the 40 years I’ve been on council.”

If the anticipated expenditures for the next decade are smoothed over a 10-year period — it would work out to an average tax increase of between three and four per cent each year.

Some of the big-ticket items shown on the 10-year capital forecast for 2026 include:

The reconstruction of Grand River Street North in Paris.

Other roadwork throughout the county, including in Oakland, Scotland, and Paris.

Work on several bridges, including Peddie Bridge in Middleport and Weir Bridge in Cathcart.

Water and wastewater infrastructure and expansions, including in Cainsville, at the business park, and upgrades to the airport water distribution system.

Brant Sports Complex expansion.

Councillors won’t have a clear idea of what the actual pressures will be until early December when they meet to go over the long-term financial plan.

But the “possibility” of a high tax rate increase “has focused the minds of staff and council ahead of the 2026 budget discussions,” Coun. John Bell said.

“We are always conscious of the impacts of property tax increases to our residents but equally we need to ensure sufficient and timely investment to maintain our more than $2-billion asset base,” Bell said.

Although it’s a strong-mayor powers budget this year, Mayor David Bailey has been clear the budget will be a joint effort.

Last year, ratepayers were hit with a 6.3 per cent tax hike. The year before, it was an 8.7 per cent increase.

Celeste Percy-Beauregard’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows her to report on stories about Brant County.