On Thursday, October 9, 2025, the Bruce County Council spent the day discussing the 2026 Capital and Operating Budget draft.
This step in the budget process provides the opportunity to prioritize alignment to strategic organizational goals. This includes realizing the vision set out in the 2023-2026 Bruce County Strategic Plan, the Bruce County Saugeen Anishnaabek Reconciliation Pathway and Action Plan, and other council-endorsed initiatives.
With 2026 being the final year of the current Council’s term, as well as the Strategic Plan cycle, the focus is on completing remaining priorities. Completion of these strategic goals strengthens the foundation which the next Strategic Plan and Council will build upon.
As municipalities across the province work through their budgets, common challenges are arising. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities shows that only 8 cents of every tax dollar goes to municipalities. The remainder goes to provincial and federal governments. Despite this limited share, municipalities are tasked with maintaining much of the infrastructure and delivering essential services that residents rely on daily.
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s call for a new funding model is part of their Social and Economic Prosperity Review. Their initial work indicates that municipalities are subsidizing areas of provincial responsibility. As an example, in 2024, Bruce County provided over $39 million in additional funds beyond the province’s contribution for housing, health services, and social services programs.
Even with these pressures, the draft 2026 Budget proposes a moderate levy increase with focus remaining on key strategic initiatives, including:
- Working with the 2026 International Plowing Match organizational committee to ensure a safe event which highlights Bruce County’s features
- Implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning software for the modernization of County processes and resource management
- Additional training for long-term care for better staff support and resident care improvements
- Collaboration with other local organizations and municipalities to undertake a comprehensive study on local transit service levels and potential route needs
- Support the most vulnerable in the community through the implementation of initiatives outlined in the Bruce County Housing Action Plan
- Development of an Age Friendly Community Framework and Action Plan to ensure all are welcome in Bruce County.
The County’s Asset Management Plan is an important element of the draft 2026 Budget. A 2.5% investment in the maintenance of County infrastructure including roads, bridges, facilities, etc., and ensures the long-term sustainability of these assets.
The draft budget includes a 5.97% levy (tax) increase which is made up of two parts:
- 3.61% for maintaining services the delivery of services and infrastructure as they exist today
- 2.36% of the increase is for new initiatives or assets outlined in our Strategic Plan.
Bruce County Council will continue their review, discussion, and direction into November with anticipated approval and adoption in December.
Warden Luke Charbonneau commented, “staff have produced a draft budget that includes several strategic investments in the County’s core infrastructure and services. Council will discuss the budget over the coming weeks to ensure that it will build, maintain and improve our County in a way that is fiscally responsible for taxpayers.”
See the draft 2026 Budget and watch the recording of Council’s October 9th, 2025, meeting at www.brucecounty.on.ca/government/agendas-and-minutes.
