The draft budget prepared by the Town of Whitby staff reflects a 3.99 per cent budget increase for 2026 – the 2026 target in the council-approved multi-year budget.
Whitby had announced a similar tax increase for 2025 (see below). The City of Oshawa has proposed a 4.68 per cent increase in its portion of the tax bill for 2026.
“A 3.99 per cent budget increase equates to a 1.4 per cent increase to the total property tax bill or an increase of approximately 25 cents per day, per household for the delivery of important services residents rely on every day, like waste collection, snow clearing, and parks maintenance,” says the draft budget.
On November 7, Mayor Elizabeth Roy will release the proposed 2026 budget, which may include adjustments to the budget projections provided by staff in the draft budget.
Public Pressure
In Phase 1 of the town’s 2026 budget engagement (in June), nearly half of respondents (48%) indicated a preference for paying less tax, even if it meant no new 2026 initiatives and a reduction in town services. That’s more than double the percentage of respondents who asked for no new investment during last year’s budget engagement.
“We recognize that many residents are feeling the strain of rising costs and the continued economic uncertainty due to tariffs and the global reaction to tariffs imposed by the United States government in early 2025. The Town of Whitby is also a consumer of goods, utilities, and services and faces similar economic pressures and uncertainty for planned purchases of supplies, construction materials, and equipment to provide essential services to the community,” said the draft budget.
It said the town also faces budget pressures related growing services and infrastructure to support an increase in population in recent years: includes staffing and operating costs for a new fire station in West Whitby and the Whitby Sports Complex.
Cost Saving Measures
Tow staff have identified the following measures to mitigate the financial impact of the budget to the community while balancing the provision of services:
- There are no new staff proposed in the 2026 budget.
- Staff have identified $2.4 million in expenditure reductions in the 2026 budget.
- Staff have identified alternative revenue sources (e.g. non-property tax revenues).
- Removal of Elexicon revenues are mitigated through the use of the contingency reserve.
- $2.2 million of assessment revenues
Whitby’s Draft 2026 Budget is now available on ConnectWhitby.ca/Budget.