Tax-weary Durham residents are in for yet another salvo – this time from the Regional Municipality of Durham, which is proposing to slap a 6.5 per cent rise in its share of 2026 property taxes.
” I can confirm the region target of 6.5 per cent [of the 2026 taxes],” Regional Councillor Brian Nicholson, told Durham Post. “It could be higher or lower, but that is the target.”
Durham Region has consistently announced among the highest increases over the past couple of years, at times, over and above the set ceiling (see below).
- 2026: Proposed 6.5% (against an announced cap of 3.5%)
- 2025: 7.4% (against an announced cap of 4.9%)
- 2024: 7.5%
- 2023: 5.2%
There has been vocal resistance to tax hikes from residents in the City of Oshawa and the Town of Whitby.
Mayor Elizabeth Roy of Whitby, using her strong mayor powers, reduced the proposed increase from 3.99 per cent to 3.49 per cent, and is still asking for residents to chime in with their comments, suggestions and recommendations, indicating further flexibility.
The City of Oshawa, too, is asking for residents’ feedback after opposition to the 4.68 per cent increase proposed in its draft budget document for 2026. The city now claims that that is the overall tax rise and that its own portion of the increase is 1.97 per cent. The move has been termed as sowing confusion among taxpayers using sleight of hand to minimize negative perception.
The Municipality of Clarington has announced a proposed 3 per cent increase saying its own portion will go up by 0.99 per cent, while the Township of Uxbridge has not announced an overall increase but says its own portion of the rise is 1.28 per cent.
Proposed 2026 Tax Increases
- Durham Region: 6.5%
- City of Oshawa: 4.6% (own portion 1.97%)
- Town of Whitby: 3.49%
- Municipality of Clarington: 3% (own portion 0.99%)
- Township of Uxbridge: 1.28% own portion
All of the above tax increases have yet to be approved by respective councils.
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