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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Worst place to live, will be moving out of Durham in the next 2 years. For a small old house I am paying 6300 dollars. Not acceptable.
Time to eliminate a level of government and Durham should be first to go….next up after that either ontario or federal but one step at a time…this is the new style of taxation. Taxing.homeowners but where at the end. We have no money…going forward if government doesn’t have money than government can’t spend bottom line…sorry were broke…only if we the taxpayers stuck together when the first payment is due and don’t pay that will be a message sent load and clear
It’s time to move back to Scarborough… Imagine no buses after 10pm, which means u gotta take 830 last train from union , which means being totally disconnected from Toronto night life and they want more money to feed corrupt police ! Shame. There’s a reason why Indian population is not coming, , because Durham is inaccessible and expensive! They are not stupid people, but are avoiding the high cost of living and inaccessibility. Quite simple.
I would be a lot less frustrated if I still had the confidence this money benefits the region. We plan on moving in the next two years. Enough is enough.
Do we need another million dollar door installed in a city building?
It’s time to stop the Durham gravy train! This region does not give it’s population anything different or special for the high rate of taxes it levy’s. It’s time to cut these budgets!
Where can you go to fight this increase this is ridiculous in 4 years we’ve seen an increase of 26.5% where is this acceptable ? This has to stop
What is the reason for such a high tax increase?
Well folks, it’s official…. I can no longer afford to live in my home. Property taxes in Oshawa are ridiculous and renting is unaffordable so…. where to go? Come on Durham…. don’t drive homeowners out! Stop this tax increase! We simply just can’t afford it! Plus the hydro increase, plus the food cost increase, plus, plus, plus! Enough already!
This Oshawa Government is out of control my monthly property taxes are more than my mortgage ever was disgusting what you’re doing to the seniors charging them this kind of money when they’re living on pensions just to stay in their homes and you keep building and building is that not enough money you’re getting from the new properties You’re Building you raised my property taxes $75 a month and now you’re going to raise them again in 2026 you should be ashamed of yourselves cut your salaries in half and control your spending we have to control our spending
Julia is 100% correct! I totally agree! How can our property taxes be more than our mortgage payments? This is getting so out of hand!