Perth County council formally adopts 2026 budget

Perth County council has formally adopted its 2026 operating and capital budget, approving a financial plan that maintains core service levels while directing new investment toward infrastructure, facilities and long-term sustainability.

The budget includes a total increase of $2.64 million over 2025, representing an 8.75 per cent levy increase. Based on the average 2016 MPAC-assessed household value of $284,000, the increase amounts to approximately $89.24 per year, or $1.72 per week, for the average household. The increase includes 1.76 per cent attributed to growth to the county’s taxbase in 2025.

Perth County Warden Dean Trentowsky said in a press release that council and staff worked carefully to balance rising costs with the need to maintain essential services and invest in the county’s future.

“I would like to thank my council colleagues for their detailed review and active participation throughout this year’s budget process,” Trentowsky said. “Both council and staff recognize the continued financial pressures and economic uncertainty faced by the ratepayers and their families, the farms and the business owners across Perth County. The county is doing the best it can to ensure that essential service levels are upheld in a fair and responsible manner, while continuing to invest in the future needs and opportunities for Perth County citizens.”

The 2026 budget supports ongoing service delivery while advancing a number of key priorities, including 33 capital projects representing a total investment of $9.6 million. Major infrastructure work includes the rehabilitation or replacement of four bridges and culverts, as well as the resurfacing of approximately 22 centreline kilometres of county roads.

Facility upgrades also feature prominently in the budget, with funding allocated for renovations to the provincial-offences courtroom and county council chambers at the Perth County courthouse in Stratford. Council also approved a $50,000 contribution toward the continued development of the Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre, along with funding for the creation of a new countywide economic development and tourism wayfinding signage program.

In addition to capital and operating expenditures, the 2026 budget includes several financial measures aimed at long-term stability. Municipal drain work will be shifted to capital accounts to help smooth annual budget impacts, while additional funds will be directed to capital reserves to address infrastructure needs and reduce reliance on reserves for operational support.

The county’s reserve contributions for 2026 represent 4.3 per cent of the total levy increase, a move staff say reflects a proactive approach to closing the infrastructure gap and managing costs downloaded by the province.

“I know we add only $10 here, $10 there to people’s taxes, but in 2025, we had 62 more (ratepayers) in Perth East who cannot afford their taxes – so we’re up to 380-something,” said Coun. Rhonda Ehgoetz, one of Perth East’s representatives on county council, prior to council’s vote to adopt the 2026 budget bylaw at its Feb. 5 meeting. “I’m not sure where the other municipalities are at, but we have to keep that in mind.

“It’s too easy just to keep upping and upping and upping and not think about those people that can’t afford it. People have kids and they need to eat, and you’re going to feed them before you pay your taxes. So, the numbers are increasing … and I fear it’s going to get worse. I think we’re going to have to buckle down here and we’re going to have to start making some cuts whether we want to or not because people just can’t afford it.”

Ultimately, Ehgoetz along with deputy warden Sue Orr and Coun. Bob Wilhelm – both of whom represent Perth South on county council – voted against the adoption of the budget bylaw. With Coun. Doug Kellum absent at the Feb. 5 meeting, the result of the vote, weighted by population for each lower-tier municipality, was 10-6 in favour of adopting the budget.

Council was first presented with the proposed 2026 budget in December, followed by a series of detailed presentations throughout January. The final budget aligns with the county’s 2023-2026 corporate strategic plan, which focuses on economic development, service effectiveness, community planning and long-term organizational sustainability.