Draft budget proposes a five per cent tax levy increase

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

County of Brant Mayor David Bailey presented the municipality’s proposed 2026 budget during a special council meeting on Jan. 22, marking the first time the process has formally operated under Ontario’s expanded strong mayor powers.

Under the legislation, Bailey was directed by the province to present the budget, though council retains the ability to propose amendments. Bailey stressed that while the authority exists, he hopes not to use it.

“Today this is going to be given to you to take back and you can make alterations to it if you like,” Bailey told council. “The thing is if it’s too much different than what I’ve done then I have another problem because then if I decide to veto it and put it back the way it is that would be the first time I’ve had to use my strong mayor powers which I have publicly said I don’t want to use.”

Bailey said the proposed budget reflects decisions already approved by council through the long-term financial plan (LTFP) process and that he did not introduce any new changes of his own, describing the approach as democratic and collaborative.

Coun. Lukas Oakley, who recently attended the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference, said other municipalities are struggling with reduced council engagement under strong mayor powers, but praised the County of Brant’s approach.

“I just want to praise you Mayor Bailey, staff, for creating a process that keeps us as involved as possible,” Oakley said. “I know there will be some people who read this mayor’s budget, whether they like it or don’t like it, put it all on you but this is a group decision.”

The proposed 2026 operating budget totals $164.8 million, with a net tax levy of $92.46 million, representing an overall levy increase of five per cent after assessment growth. Of that increase, one per cent is dedicated to the special levy for the new Brant-Brantford hospital project.

Based on the figures presented, the County estimates the average residential property, assessed at a median value of $391,000, would see an annual tax increase of $206.28.

That example prompted discussion among councillors, particularly around how assessment values are communicated to the public.

Coun. John Peirce said the $391,000 figure is based on outdated Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) values and does not reflect current market conditions.

“There’s nothing — you can get an empty plot of land for $390,000 to build a house,” Peirce said, noting that median home values in Brant County are now closer to $700,000 to $1 million. He asked whether additional context or disclaimers could be added to clarify that the assessment values are based on MPAC data from 2016.

Director of Finance Heather Miffin confirmed that the $391,000 figure reflects assessed value, not market value, a distinction she acknowledged can be difficult to explain. Bailey agreed that clarification would be helpful, and it was agreed that communication material will be updated to provide clarity for taxpayers. 

During the discussion period of the evening, Coun. John Bell said the overall budget figures can be misleading without additional explanation, noting the County’s total operating budget is approximately $162 million, with significant portions funded through grants, user fees and other non-tax revenues, rather than property taxes alone. 

He added that the size and complexity of the county’s operations should be better communicated to residents to provide clearer context on how effectively and efficiently the county operates.

Major cost pressures in the 2026 budget include a 7.9 per cent increase in salaries, wages and benefits, a 10.9 per cent increase in OPP policing costs, a 9.7 per cent increase in paramedic services, and an 8.7 per cent increase in funding to external agencies.

Chief Administrative Officer Alison Newton addressed staffing questions during her portion of the presentation, including those raised by Coun. Bell following resident comments on a recent social media post about the budget. Newton said no new staff positions are proposed for 2026, despite increasing complexity across county services. 

“The complexity of our organization has changed drastically over the last few years,” Newton said, adding that investments made in recent years are “paying off in spades” and that existing staff are highly dedicated.

Miffin said the increase in salaries, wages and benefits is driven by several factors and acknowledged the answer to why an 7.9 per cent increase is budgeted is not straightforward. These costs could include cost-of-living adjustments for non-union staff, negotiated wage increases for unionized employees, higher benefit costs charged by benefit providers, and the progression of staff through established salary grids as they gain experience and skills. Miffin said a detailed Q&A will be posted on the Engage Brant budget page to help residents better understand how staffing costs factor into the overall 7.9 per cent increase. 

Council will review the proposed budget and may bring forward amendments at a special meeting scheduled for Feb. 5. Final adoption of the 2026 budget is expected on Feb. 15.

Public feedback on the proposed budget can be submitted through Engage Brant. You can view all budget documents online at https://www.brant.ca/en/council-and-council-administration/2026-proposed-budget.aspx