The Township of Centre Wellington, Ontario, published a ‘January Strategic Decisions’ summary on January 27, 2026, following its council meeting on January 26, 2026, that outlines measures affecting property taxes and downtown parking.
Council approved a 3.68% property tax levy increase for the 2026 budget to help fund state-of-good-repair projects and address a reported $35.7-million capital backlog.
According to coverage in the Wellington Advertiser and the Township summary, the budget focus is on catching up with needed repairs to roads and bridges. Council also reviewed a month‑one operational report on the Downtown Elora paid-parking pilot, which launched on January 5, 2026, part of a ‘user‑pay’ approach intended to manage high visitor volumes in the downtown core.
Council finalized the indexing of 2026 Development Charges — fees charged to developers — consistent with Wellington County’s Development Charges by‑law (No. 5759‑22). County policy and Township staff say these charges are intended to ensure growth‑related infrastructure (for example, pipes and roads) is funded by development so existing taxpayers are not subsidizing those costs.
These updates follow the Township’s 2023–2026 Strategic Plan. Council also began awarding tenders for several major bridge projects; work on those bridges is expected to begin this spring as contracts are executed.
