The City of Brockville, Ontario, officially adopted its 2026 municipal budget on January 27, 2026, resulting in a 3.99 percent increase for the average residential property tax bill. This change means a homeowner with a house valued at $250,000 will pay about $172 more this year to fund local services. The budget process was the first to take place under new provincial rules that grant more authority to the mayor, though the final plan was passed without any use of veto powers.
The total spending for the year is set at $48,483,187. This funding includes the hiring of two new bylaw enforcement officers and money for community projects such as new pickleball courts and trail extensions. While the tax bill for residents will go up by nearly four percent, the total amount of money the city must collect through taxes, known as the tax levy, has increased by 5.67 percent.
Residents will also see a 2.46 percent tax rate increase from the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, which approved its own separate budget for 2026. Mayor Matt Wren noted that he chose to maintain a collaborative approach with the rest of the council during the financial planning rather than using his expanded “strong mayor” powers to make unilateral changes.
Looking ahead to the upcoming municipal election on October 26, 2026, Mayor Matt Wren has announced he will not seek re-election. This decision opens the race for the mayor’s seat as prospective candidates prepare for the fall vote. Potential council candidates include Bud Eyre, a registered nurse at Brockville General Hospital who previously ran for a seat in 2018.
