The 2026 Staff Budget: What It Means and What Happens Next

The City’s 2026 staff-proposed budget was released today, kicking off a multi-stage process before the final budget is adopted on February 10. This is the stage where residents can review the proposed investments, ask questions, and share ideas before decisions are finalized. Click Here to see our CFO's presentation on this budget. For more information on the process, please visit: www.toronto.ca/budget

You may have heard that the proposed property tax increase is significantly lower than in previous years. The total increase is 2.2%, which matches the rate of inflation and is made up of:

• 0.7% property tax increase to support day-to-day city services, and

• 1.5% City Building Fund levy, dedicated to building and repairing critical infrastructure like transit, roads, housing, and community facilities.

How Toronto compares

Toronto’s proposed increase is lower than many neighbouring regions and municipalities:

Regional increases

• York Region: 4.28%

• Peel Region: 3.36%

• Durham Region: 6.04%

• Halton Region: 4.60%

Municipal increases (in addition to regional rates)

• Markham: 3.90%

• Richmond Hill: 3.46%

• Burlington: 5.80%

What this budget focuses on

Families across Toronto are feeling the pressure of the high cost of living. This budget is about making life more affordable while continuing to invest in strong city services people rely on every day.

It includes free food in public schools, saving families up to $880 per year; frozen TTC fares while improving service and introducing fare-capping so frequent riders pay less; and libraries open seven days a week as welcoming, free spaces for families and young people.

The budget also continues to invest in community safety. 911 wait times are down significantly, crime is decreasing, and the City is hiring more police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and mental-health workers to build on that progress.

After two years of closing a $1.8-billion budget gap, Toronto is now on stronger financial footing and has received a AA+ credit rating for the first time in over 23 years.

How to get involved – upcoming budget events

There are several opportunities in the coming weeks to learn more and share your feedback:

• January 14 & 15, 7:00–8:30 pm City Budget Telephone Town Halls Ask questions and share ideas directly with the Mayor and Budget Chief Shelley Carroll. Visit www.toronto.ca/budget for details or call 1-833-380-0687 toll-free to join at the time of the event.

• Saturday, January 17, 10:30 am–12:00 pm Willowdale City Budget Virtual Town Hall Join me and Althea Hutchinson, Executive Director of the City’s Financial Planning Division, for a deeper dive into the budget and a chance to ask questions. RSVP at www.lilycheng.ca/events.

• January 14–16 Service Area Presentations Watch City divisions present their proposed budgets and priorities. Details are available at www.toronto.ca/budget. All residents are welcome to watch the meetings online.

• Tuesday, January 20 North York Civic Centre + Toronto City Hall - Budget Committee Deputations Residents can prepare a speech or written deputation to share their concerns and ideas regarding the city’s budget. These will happen from 9:30 am to as late as needed. People can sign up to depute in the morning, afternoon or evening.

• Wednesday, January 21 Etobicoke and Scarborough Civic Centres - Budget Committee Deputations

• January 23 Budget Committee Wrap Up. The committee makes final recommendations to the mayor.

• February 1 Mayor Proposed Budget is released.

• February 10 Special City Council Meeting where Mayor Chow passes her budget.

I invite residents to join both our virtual Town Hall and to make deputations to the Budget Committee. These are important opportunities for you to have your voice heard and for Willowdale’s interests to be better represented in the city budget.